AMA (Ask Me Anything): Jesse Wachtel
Meet Jesse Wachtel, our CTO, a self-taught developer who began building decentralized applications back in 2020, while working as a truck driver! He leads our development team, has deep blockchain knowledge, and builds the core technology powering both the networking app and the upcoming ticketing and event management dApp. Beyond Thrilld, he has built various decentralised ventures. Read on and find out more about his trajectory towards becoming a full-stack Web3 dev...
At Thrilld Labs, our team is made up of people coming from countries including the Netherlands and Italy and Scotland to South Korea, Kazakhstan, India, the United States and Nigeria, too! In our latest series, we’re thrilld to do AMAs with some of our team members. How come they are in Web3? What do they care about? And how will (or won’t!) they help build the future of our industry?
In this AMA, we’re excited to introduce Jesse Wachtel, our Lead Engineer and CTO at Thrilld Labs. Jesse is a long-time blockchain engineer and a passionate advocate for decentralization. His background in leading teams and building user-focused Web3 applications is instrumental in shaping our development roadmap.
As CTO, Jesse is focused on improving Thrilld’s infrastructure, mentoring our Development Trainee team, and bringing new Web3 features to life. He’s also the founder of Decentralized Ventures, where he built Funding Chain—a privacy-first crowdfunding platform that uses censorship-resistant smart contracts.
Read on to hear more about what Jesse does at Thrilld Labs, what his journey in Web3 has looked like so far, what he finds exciting (ehh, thrilling) about it, and how he’s helping shape the future of the Web3 space…
What is your role, and how does your work at Thrilld Labs align (if at all!) with your career goals?
I’m the CTO at Thrilld Labs, and it’s been the most exciting role of my career. Every day brings new challenges that push me to grow as a developer and leader.
What initially brought you to the Web3 space and also to Thrilld Labs?
I entered the Web3 space because I see a real need to decentralize as many aspects of our lives as possible. Whether it’s finance, voting, or social infrastructure, there are countless examples of things going wrong due to centralized control. I believe Web3 can help solve many of these issues by giving power back to individuals.
What brought me to Thrilld Labs was Alex, the founder. After a few conversations, we both felt I’d be a strong fit to lead the technical efforts while she continued focusing on growth. Now, nearly a year in, it’s proven to be a great fit all around,
What’s one thing you’ve learned since joining the Web3 space that surprised/touched/excited/impressed you?
One thing I’ve learned is that while the Web3 space is massive, it feels like a very interconnected, decentralized family. Everyone genuinely wants to see others succeed and make a positive difference.
About YOU as a person, what do most others not necessarily expect about you?
Something that tends to surprise people about me is that I’m a completely self-taught developer.
When I started building my first decentralized application in 2020, I had zero coding experience. At the time, I was actually working as a truck driver. I spent countless hours in the back of my truck teaching myself how to build React applications. Over time, I dove into Web3, learned how to write smart contracts, and eventually built full Web3 integrations on my own.
Another fun fact that tends to catch people off guard: I also raise chickens. Not professionally or anything — but yes, I’m a chicken farmer too. And if you’re an avid reader of the Thrilld Labs AMA, you’ll know I’m not the only one here with chickens!
If you had to explain what you do at Thrilld Labs to your grandma, how would you describe it?
I build on that “Bitcoin thing” you hear about on the news!
What’s your favorite part about working at Thrilld Labs?
I don’t have just one favorite thing about working at Thrilld Labs. There are many. First and foremost, the team is incredible. Alex leads by example and sets the tone for a culture that is positive, uplifting, professional, and deeply committed to success. That spirit runs throughout the team, making Thrilld Labs the kind of place you genuinely want to “show up” to every day, even in a fully remote environment.
Another highlight has been the opportunity to assemble and mentor a team of developer trainees. Guiding them and collaborating with them has not only been fulfilling, but it’s also helped bring our ideas and product roadmap to life in meaningful ways.
Describe Thrilld Labs in three words.
Fun, fast, and different!
How do you stay productive while working remotely/in a fast-moving Web 3 environment?
Caffeine definitely helps!
Staying productive in the Web3 world is non-negotiable. Everything moves fast, and you’ve got to keep up. But maintaining that pace takes real discipline. For me, planning and scheduling are essential. . One underrated but crucial tip: make time to get out of the house. Remote work can wear on you if you never change your environment, so staying balanced is just as important as staying focused.
Thank you Jesse! We're thrilld to have you on board :)
Read more about what brought Jesse to Web3 and what he’s doing at Thrilld Labs here.
Join Thrilld Labs’ Mission
If you are interested in being part of Thrilld Labs’ Team, simply write to info@thrilldlabs.io, check out our Traineeship Program here, or apply to become a Thrilld Ambassador
