[Important] UPDATE + Personal Statement

I am writing this newsletter with the utmost respect for the members of The Smartists Community, who have been following our developmental journey step by step.

The Smartists project that started in 2020 is in a critical situation.

Important Updates

• The technical development of our DApp has been interrupted. I have been leading this project since day one, and so far I have failed to build the tech team we need to push the mvp to the next level, so we cannot move forward until we find a developer seriously committing to Smartists. If you want to know more, please contact me, answering to this newsletter.

• Sadly, the Smartists mvp is down at this moment. We are working to have it up and running as soon as we can with some priceless technical support. Nevertheless, since our CTO could not commit to his post, the Smartists PBC is looking for a replacement and deciding about a new structure. Looking forward, we need to carefully consider our next steps for the development of the App, and we will keep you informed here about any further decision.

Although the Smartists community has been very quiet these past weeks, we are actually happy that most of our subscribers open the present newsletter, and this brings good support to move forward and keep fighting for our mission. In that sense, and despite the unsettling situation, I have had the wonderful opportunity to contact great artists, creators and web3 builders who are interested in our project. Knowing that we can join forces feels really good at this moment.

My Personal Statement as CEO, CCO and co-founder of Smartists.

As a CEO I feel responsible and overwhelmed by the present situation, and I doubt I am the leader this project deserves. Therefore I have proposed some changes in our team, and I wish the project can move on with a new leadership.

As the first co-founder I believe that the mission and vision of Smartists is still relevant and deserves a renewed chance, so I will be there to support anyone who takes the lead to build the best tools for independent artists to self-manage on the web3. In that sense, I hope to keep working as Chief Community Officer at Smartists and connecting with artists in the real world to introduce them to the web3 and propose our solutions, like I have been doing so far.

For three years we have been working hard to have a prototype-mvp and a set of IP licenses with the smart contracts to attach them to our “genuine-NFTs”. Our deep research and our small but loyal community are unique values that make our project special and distinct from many others.

I have personally invested all the resources I had at hand (time, effort and money) for the cause of independent artists on the web3 in order to build Smartists as the best tool for them to defend and manage their rights.

I want to declare here that I will keep committing to the Smartists mission, whatever the circumstances.

Georgina Mauriño, CEO and CCO of Smartists.

Thank you and keep it here!

I take full responsibility for the late developments, and I want to apologize for whatever unfulfilled expectations I may have raised.

In the name of our team, I also want to thank you for being with us all this time, and I hope you will keep it here in the next months. More than ever our team needs your support in order to be able to move forward and decide about our next steps.

At this moment, we are going to take a few days for family time and reflection, and we will come back in January with our plans for 2023.

Gratefully,

Georgina Mauriño, author-illustrator and co-founder of Smartists.