How I Stumbled Upon Polkadot (and Fell in Love)
My journey into Web3 wasn’t a grand plan, but a happy accident. In early April 2021, with some spare cash from a mountain bike purchase, I decided to dabble in crypto. Like many, I started with Bitcoin and Ethereum just as the market was exploding, quickly getting swept up in the excitement and investing in a ton of altcoins.
Of course, the initial euphoria eventually cooled and I returned to the more grounded reality of crypto markets. Around September or October 2021, I discovered Polkadot’s technology, and I was immediately captivated. I remember investing some DOT in my first crowdloan for Centrifuge, and from that point on, I fell in love with the technology, Gavin Wood’s vision, and the vibrant community.
After that, I pretty much stopped looking at other altcoins; all I wanted to do was consolidate my positions and move everything into DOT. And that’s how I found my way to Polkadot.
The Unforgettable Experience of PBA6: More Than Just Learning
Attending Polkadot Blockchain Academy (PBA) cohort 6 in Lucerne in March and April was truly an experience unlike any other. For 3 intense weeks, I joined a vibrant community of students, dedicated PBA staff, and inspiring instructors. As an Industrial Engineer with nearly 16 years of experience at Google, I was already well-versed in the tech world.
My participation in PBA wasn’t through the standard exam process; instead, I attended because I had just joined Parity as an Engineering Manager, and PBA offered a fantastic opportunity to quickly ramp up in my new role. I was incredibly thankful for the opportunity and gave it my all, tackling assignments right alongside the other students.
But the biggest advantage I gained wasn’t just technical knowledge; it was the connections and relationships I forged.
These will be invaluable for fostering collaborations and building the future of Polkadot.
The intense schedule meant late nights, often spent not just on assignments, but also answering countless questions from students eager to learn about my career journey at Google and Parity, interview processes, and general career growth advice.
What the dApps Track Covered: Building the Future of Web3
PBA6 marked a significant shift for the academy. While previous cohorts (and Polkadot itself for years) focused heavily on teaching developers how to build on Substrate and create parachains, PBA6 piloted a new additional track: the dApps (Decentralized Applications) track, which aims to onboard developers to the new Polkadot Hub.
Our main objective was to learn how to build dApps on Polkadot. We delved into Polkadot.js, the historical primary API and developer console, learning its origins and its shortcomings. The most valuable takeaway, however, was learning about PAPI (Polkadot API) directly from its developers.
We learned how to connect our applications through the Polkadot API, exploring pallets like staking, systems, balances, and identity. We gained the fundamental knowledge needed to build functional applications.
Our core assignment: a staking dashboard displaying validator performance and APY. The goal was to empower nominators to maximize their staking rewards, creating a tool that didn’t yet exist.
This focus on dApps is crucial because it’s the missing link to real end-users. For most, interaction with Polkadot won’t be through understanding blockchain infrastructure, but through dApps—be it DeFi, gaming, or Web2-like tools integrated with Web3. Users don’t need to understand the underlying layers; they simply need useful applications. The dApps track empowers developers to build these valuable tools.
The Intensity and Rewards of a Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience
PBA6 was an intensive, truly once-in-a-lifetime experience I don’t regret. It was incredibly taxing mentally and physically. Even weeks after, I needed time to recover and regain efficiency. That’s how intense PBA is.
Yet, it was one of the best experiences of my life.
I learned so much about pushing my own limits, sharing the journey with ~78 other equally motivated students. I forged incredible connections with the PBA staff, brainstorming great ideas for future collaborations—connections I couldn’t have made otherwise.
I also met various visitors, learning about their applications and goals for building on Polkadot. As an Engineering Manager for Product Strategy at Parity, these interactions were invaluable for identifying opportunities and exploring how we could support them.
Naturally, I also deepened my understanding of Polkadot itself, diving into pallets, core systems, and infrastructure in a way that would have taken me far longer on my own.
The Unfiltered Reality: Tales from the Academy Trenches
Beyond the rigorous curriculum, PBA6 served up some truly memorable (and often hilarious) moments that highlight just how intense, and occasionally peculiar, the experience was.
- My Golfing Delusion: As an avid golfer, I arrived with grand visions of hitting the links daily at Holzhäusern.
Spoiler alert: impossible! Classes ran until 7 PM, followed by assignments and late-night talks. My only escape? Half a Saturday morning tee time and frantic dashes to the driving range before the 7 PM supermarket closing. My handicap certainly didn’t improve. - The “Gym”: A Room of Disappointment: My fitness goals quickly devolved. The hotel gym was an 8-square-meter room with a rowing machine, an elliptical, and “the most horrible bicycle I ever sat on.” I lasted three minutes before giving up. With only a couple of sad weights, my workout routine became “try not to fuse with my chair.”
- The Nap of Champions: Exhaustion was real. One memorable night, a student completely crashed, face down on his MacBook on a hotel lounge sofa, utterly knocked out from assignment work. There’s a fantastic photo circulating that perfectly captures the sheer dedication (and sleep deprivation) of PBA students.
- Foosball Glory and a Fateful Final: It wasn’t all code! The campus foosball table was a popular spot. Having honed my skills in Madrid during college, I found some things you just don’t forget. When a tournament was organized, I joined in, and here’s the fun part: Dr. Chen-Da, our first lecturer and a fellow Madrid native, was also a foosball shark! We bonded over our shared background. In a hilarious twist, my team faced Dr. Chen-Da’s team in the final. And yes, my team won! I was genuinely shocked to win a tournament after three decades away from the table
- Mount Pilatus: A Brush with (Snowy) Reality: Some adventurous students went hiking on Mount Pilatus. Given the pictures (snow-covered peaks), it looked less like a hike and more like a near-death experience for folks who likely hadn’t hiked before. It definitely could have gone really, really badly!
- The Life-Saving Mini-Fridge and the “Five Francs” Hustle: Finding food after 7 PM in Rotkreuz was a mission. Supermarkets closed early. My mini-fridge became my absolute savior! Our survival hack: after classes, everyone would sprint to the nearest supermarket, stock up, and stash groceries. Without them, we’d have relied on instant noodles and dreams. And speaking of hotel quirks, their cleaning policy offered a 5-franc discount voucher if you skipped room cleaning. I quietly stockpiled these. It was amusing to see others on Discord proudly announcing their 20 or 25 francs saved, while I was already sitting on about 50 francs—I’d perfectly timed my minimal cleanings. By the end, I had enough to treat myself and even some friends to a great dinner!
- The Smart Hotel’s Quirks: Our modern, self-service hotel lacked a traditional lobby or physical keys. Everything was controlled by a web app on your phone. It looked super fancy, but sometimes, the user experience wasn’t seamless. Case in point: the laundry room. One night, around 9 PM, I found my clothes trapped inside after the door inexplicably locked down! No staff, no key, just a digital system. After frantically searching for a phone number and explaining my predicament in my best German, security eventually unlocked it. “Don’t close it again!” they warned. Modern tech is cool, but sometimes, you just wish for a simple key. Thankfully, I didn’t have to attend class naked the next day!
- Pinto, the Banana Bandit: One of the PBA staff members brought her amazing dog, Pinto. Despite his Spanish name (from his owner’s partner), he only seemed to understand English—a pity! This dog had an insatiable appetite for bananas. Every break, he’d expertly snatch any available piece, or even a whole one! He was so cute, no one could resist. Half the bananas would be gone after the first break, and Pinto was the prime suspect.
- Gavin Wood’s Bodyguards, More Intimidating Than the Code: We were fortunate to have a special lecture from Dr. Gavin Wood on JAM. It was fascinating, and he generously gave us double the allocated time. But what I remember most vividly were his two bodyguards. These guys were intense! They meticulously swept the auditorium, looking like they were ready to take on an army.
The Three Best Things About PBA
- The Connections: Relationships forged at PBA can last a lifetime. I’m thrilled to share that three students I met at PBA6 are already joining my teams at Parity, and many others are currently going through interviews at Parity and other ecosystem companies. This clearly demonstrates PBA’s core purpose: equipping developers to thrive in the ecosystem. The results speak for themselves.
- The People Behind PBA: I have immense respect for the dedication of the PBA staff. What they’ve accomplished is amazing. They weren’t just harvesting the fruits of their labor; they were working non-stop. For students, PBA6 is the campus experience. For staff, it’s the end of one cycle and the beginning of PBA7, plus parallel efforts like PBA-X. I was truly impressed by their continuous effort, ensuring everything ran perfectly while simultaneously preparing for the next batch and organizing future lectures.
- The New Talent Entering the Ecosystem: Witnessing the volume of new talent entering the Polkadot ecosystem is incredibly inspiring. PBA is one of the most effective initiatives for nurturing this talent, clearly reaching key individuals with the interest and passion to build something meaningful within our community.
A Synergistic Collaboration: Lucerne University & Parity
Another incredible takeaway from PBA6 was my connection with Dr. Chen-Da, Director of the Blockchain Lab at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. We met on campus—he was our first lecturer—and immediately connected. During our conversations, I learned about the impressive PhD students Dr. Chen-Da hosts in his lab.
This sparked an exciting idea: exploring having these PhD students work with Parity during their academic journey. I’m incredibly glad to say that, most probably by June, we’ll host our first PhD students at Parity!
This is an incredible outcome for me, for Parity, and for Dr. Chen-Da and his students. These are the kinds of synergies and potential collaborations we found together, and I can’t wait to see the incredible things these PhD students will deliver at Parity.
Conclusion: A Transformative Experience
My time at PBA6 was more than just an academy; it was a whirlwind of intense learning, unexpected challenges, and genuinely unique experiences. It solidified my passion for Polkadot and, despite the sleep deprivation and the elusive golf games, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
The connections I made, the knowledge I gained, and the sheer energy of the Polkadot ecosystem are invaluable. I left Lucerne energized and excited for the future, not just for myself, but for the incredible talent and innovation that PBA continues to foster within Web3.
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