The month of August is Blockchain month globally for Startup Grind, with the vast majority of our 350 chapters hosting blockchain technology experts to speak with us at our fireside chats.

In keeping with this goal, we are thrilled to host , Ms Holly Stephens, at our next Startup Grind event on August 23 at QUT Business School. As Chief Marketing Officer at Beam, Holly is well positioned to discuss their world leading marketing and payments platform which is raising $40M as a reverse ICO (Initial Coin Offering) to decentralise their existing business onto the blockchain. Holly also serves as Head of Business Analysis at Prismatik who works with the likes of other blockchain companies such as CanYa and 8x Protocol.

What is Beam?

Beam is a global payments acceptance platform for the 21st century with built-in support for smart contracts. We created Beam to help retail value chain stakeholders become more efficient by engaging with their customers in a more meaningful and effective manner. The platform enables stakeholders across the retail value chain to incentivise desired customer behaviour by defining measurable goals along with a monetary reward for their achievement.

The blockchain startup space is brimming with great ideas, many of which have the potential to be highly disruptive and innovative. What makes us different is our track record and market experience. Since 2011, we have developed relationships with stakeholders ranging from mom and pop stores to enterprise retailers, brands and distributors such as Carrefour, Costa Coffee, ALDO, Tommy Hilfiger, Unilever, Coca Cola and many more.

Proven benefits at scale Beam’s technical network reach exceeds 400,000 stores globally, with over 5,000 live stores in three continents. Having executed over 4.3 million smart contracts with total throughput in excess of $250 million, we have proven the benefits of the Beam Platform at scale. We aim to overturn the status quo in retail value chain and pave the way for a brave new future. Our ambition is matched by our domain expertise, ability and experience.

Achievements

In 2016, Beam became the first app to let UAE pay for fuel from their car. Since its inception in 2012, Beam has invented and successfully implemented enhanced payments and rewards experiences.

#5 in Financial IT Pathfinder Rankings for 2016/2017. Coming in at No. 5 on the Top 50 most promising startups in from across Europe. Voted by an expert Panel, consisting of industry veterans, venture capitalists (VCs) and Financial IT’s senior editors and research analysts

Winner: Technology Innovation Leadership Award in Mobile Payment Services. One of the few awards distributed within the IT sector by the global growth consulting firm, this accolade highlights the significant contribution Beam Wallet is making in delivering innovation in the Middle East.

I look forward to having Holly demystify blockchain technology and highlight its practical application in Beam Wallet's payments and marketing plaform