Date: 2026-07-29 4:00 PM EDT Attendees: Michael Houck (Rye Valley), Grig Richters (XWECAN), Tatem (Candid Network / Silux Rings)
Summary
Weekly team sync covering Emil’s Middle East/Saudi expansion strategy, a TEDx and conference pipeline, incoming press for Flash Pass, and Emil’s TikTok and brand direction. Key call: Civic Chain (not Flash Pass) is the right vehicle for Saudi/UAE outreach, and that path requires a separate regional entity plus significant in-country presence. Conference pipeline is strong with Grig holding direct contacts at FII, Abu Dhabi Finance Week, TEDx Luxembourg, and TEDx Rome.
Decisions Made
- Flash Pass is not the right fit for Saudi outreach. Civic Chain is the better angle given crypto’s reception in UAE/Saudi. Any real push would require a separate entity based in Saudi or UAE under the holdco and Emil spending meaningful time on the ground. No commitment made yet; flagged for further consideration.
- TEDx strategy: local and regional first. Prioritize smaller TEDx events (Columbus Nov 2026, Columbus State Jan 2027, Luxembourg/Rome 2026-2027) for logo-building and content before pursuing the main TED stage.
- Emil to double down on work-life balance as his core content theme. Brand needs more definition overall but content output is the immediate priority.
Action Items
| Owner | Action | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Grig | Loop Michael into TEDx Luxembourg and FII email threads | Immediate |
| Grig | Reach out to Abu Dhabi Finance Week CEO and FII marketing director | Immediate |
| Grig/Tatem | Update Tatem on each incoming press piece as it drops | Rolling |
| Team | Schedule full brand brainstorm session for Emil’s positioning and TikTok strategy | Next week |
Conference Pipeline
| Event | Location | Date | Grig Contact Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FII (Future Investment Initiative) | Saudi Arabia | Oct 26-29, 2026 | Has new marketing director contact |
| TEDx Columbus | Columbus, OH | Nov 2026 | Organizer contact available |
| Abu Dhabi Finance Week | Abu Dhabi | Dec 2026 | Knows CEO well |
| TEDx Columbus State University | Columbus, OH | Jan 2027 | - |
| TEDx Luxembourg | Luxembourg | 2026-2027 | Close contact |
| TEDx Rome | Rome | Apr 2027 | Close contact (largest in Europe) |
| Collision Summit | Toronto | Spring | Secondary option, ~20k founders |
Notable Excerpts
Full transcript unavailable (Granola paid tier required). Notes sourced from Granola AI summary.
On Saudi VC expectations: Saudi VCs now require genuine regional presence, not just capital asks. One example cited: a client relocated to Dubai in exchange for $30M, talent, and office space. Emil would need to replicate that level of commitment for it to be credible.
On Civic Chain vs Flash Pass for Saudi: Crypto is well-received in UAE/Saudi. Civic Chain is a better narrative fit for the region than Flash Pass, which was flagged as not the right angle.
On Emil’s TikTok frustration: Emil is reluctant to continue TikTok, partly frustrated that a newer client grew from ~1k to 5-6k followers in a week while Emil is still around 1k after months. Grig’s framing: Emil needs a community or movement to represent, not just contrarian takes. Growth is easier when people identify with a spokesperson for something.
On incoming Flash Pass press: Delaware announcement dropping this week (Will handling interviews). Fast Company piece approved, out within 7 days. Entrepreneur magazine organic feature in the works. Reuters piece coming soon.
See Granola for full meeting notes: id 396425e4-d938-492a-8964-78b9e68acd53