Our story began in 2016/2017 when we immersed ourselves in the world of crypto, captivated by the transformative potential of Bitcoin and Ethereum. These technologies promised to revolutionize the way we interacted, emphasizing decentralization, and peer-to-peer transactions.
It all started with Satoshi Nakamoto's groundbreaking work and the subsequent rise of Mt. Gox, which paved the way for early regulations on cryptocurrency exchanges in Japan. Our founder, Marisa, was deeply involved in the industry, working tirelessly at a centralized cryptocurrency exchange—an establishment at the forefront of this emerging field. While other businesses focused on new token projects, Marisa and her team were dedicated to establishing next-generation financial services, working with regulators towards a path of financial inclusion.
However, after her experience, she learned that the true heart of the ecosystem lay beyond the confines of the exchange. Exchange regulation was becoming akin to that of traditional financial services, so she moved to join the ecosystem as a consultant and anonymous contributor. The ecosystem thrived on collaborative efforts, strategic marketing campaigns, the cultivation of vibrant communities, and ongoing research endeavors. Yet, the existing infrastructure to build teams was lacking, forcing token projects and communities to rely on conventional platforms like LinkedIn, UpWork, or Fiverr, which were ill-suited for crypto/web3 natives. This resulted in inefficient hiring methods, a lack of experts, prolonged development cycles, and hindered progress.
Marisa, a digital nomad, then found her place in Bangkok among a community of early cryptocurrency adopters. There, she met Toby, her co-founder, who shared her passion for building decentralized teams and discovering talent in underserved communities. They noticed that while some people in Bangkok thrived financially through remote work and low living costs, others aspired to do the same but lacked guidance. Determined to empower these individuals, Marisa and Toby embarked on a mission to create a platform that would provide resources and support, enabling people to harness online opportunities, connect with like-minded individuals, and achieve their dreams of flexible work.
As we delved deeper into the concept of the network state thesis and remote work, we became convinced that it was time to establish new infrastructure, starting with work experience and payments. We noticed that numerous individuals, not just those working in crypto/web3, but online poker players, e-commerce business owners, fashion influencers, and anyone with irregular income on the internet relied on cryptocurrencies for their transactions. Primarily due to the limited access of traditional banking and the need to serve a global audience and receive payments. Recognizing this need, we embarked on establishing Joba as a platform that would lay the groundwork to establish a truly global crypto/web3 financial service ecosystem.
Initially, we envisioned our company as a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), guided by a philosophy that aligned with the future of work. Our name transitioned from Job DAO to Work DAO, reflecting our focus on the collaborative potential of decentralized work environments. However, we found that DAOs were still in their infancy, often controlled by a small group of fewer than 10 community members. Consequently, we decided to embrace a new identity: "Jo-bah."
At Joba, we firmly believe that the future of work lies in fostering collaboration between humans, technology, and organizations. Our logo symbolizes this harmonious partnership, depicting three entities working together towards shared goals.
We’re building a platform that helps you build teams and manage payments - infrastructure for the future of work.
We are excited to invite you to join our journey.