THE MOST IMPACTFUL CEO TO WATCH IN -2023
Daniel Valdes
CEO, Nexxyo Labs /Maniac Panda Games
Driving Success through Innovation and Collaboration
A leader in the field of software development should possess a diverse range of skills and qualities to stay ahead in the highly competitive market. Where he/she is expected to be innovative, creative, and have a deep understanding of user experience and customer needs, and have strong technical expertise, as well as knowledge of emerging technologies and industry trends. Thus, shining a bright spotlight on one such leader who through his impressive communication and leadership skills has been inspiring and managing a team of developers, designers and engineers – Daniel Valdes heads Nexxyo Labs /Maniac Panda Games as the CEO.
Nexxyo Labs is a company that started operating as a software developer and consultant for third parties and gradually migrated towards creating its own products, the company’s main pillar today. And, as the CEO – Daniel, motivates everyone onboard to work relentlessly towards the company’s main goal of developing applications that facilitate the daily lives of several people and companies.
Also, as the leader of the whole parade at Nexxyo Labs, Daniel’s current short-term goal is to finish the development of Outer Ring MMO (a game that uses blockchain technology), make a Triple A out of it, and market it to a global audience. Also, under Daniel’s capable leadership, Nexxyo Labs is on the lookout to start new offices in Germany and Italy, expand the team to +250 people, launch four more games, and develop a huge blockchain ecosystem.
Leading the Way from the Start
Starting off his entrepreneurial journey in the restoration industry, where Daniel opened bars and restaurants successfully, he was always passionate towards game development. This very interest of his led him to explore the crypto industry early in 2010. And over time, Daniel gained experience managing investment portfolios, and in 2015, he launched his first project with Aurora Blockchain. Eventually this passion led to the creation of Nexxyo Labs, a company that started as a small team focused on app development for third-party clients, but after having quickly realized the potential of the blockchain industry, pivoted in that direction, leading to the launch of Bamboo Defi. Sharing a point on where Nexxyo Labs stands in today’s date, Daniel shares – “Today, Nexxyo Labs has grown exponentially, employing over 170 talented individuals, and we are proud to be not just a software development company but also a Triple A game studio named Maniac Panda Games”.
Talking specifically about what Bamboo Defi is all about, Daniel continued – “Bamboo Defi, a decentralized exchange, is the first blockchain product to be launched from Nexxyo Labs”. He added – “The project is renowned for creating Navarra’s first cryptocurrency, where Nexxyo Labs is also a founding member of BAS (Blockchain Arbitration Society)—an association promoting the development of legislation and the adoption of blockchain technology”.
Moreover, providing a thorough platform for a few team members at Nexxyo Labs who were previously avid video game developers, Daniel and his team launched – Outer Ring. An MMO game which uses blockchain technology, raised 15 million euros in 3 rounds of funding for its development. A year later, Game Development became the company’s flagship, now converted into a video game studio. In 2023 Daniel has 5 game releases in the pipeline.
A Leader by Heart
“It’s an incredible journey for me to start a company with a few friends 3 years ago and now manage an international team of more than 170 people while keeping our headquarters 15 min from home in Pamplona”, stated – Daniel, ecstatically. A hardcore team member, Daniel is very happy that he gets to work between an animator and an Unreal programmer. In the office and on Discord, Daniel makes himself always available for his team, be it on professional or on personal fronts. Daniel has ensured that the Company has no hierarchical communication barriers, which is perhaps a pillar of the company’s culture.
One more very important aspect of being a CEO is to take care of the connection with the audience. And in this pursuit Daniel and team are constantly interacting with their audience for games and blockchain-related products, investing significant time and resources in community management to get feedback and solve questions. Nexxyo Labs has also employed more than ten community managers and moderators, but the Company feels the key to client satisfaction is launching good products, which Nexxyo Labs has been doing and will continue to do so.
When Daniel was asked about his biggest achievements as the CEO of Nexxyo Labs /Maniac Panda Games, he spoke about Bamboo Defi now operating as a pioneer decentralized exchange in Spain, getting 50+ partners for Outer Ring MMO, growing their team from 14 to 170+ in a year, hiring top talent from the videogame industry, and several other achievements.
Lastly, on a personal level Daniel Valdes is just another geek in disguise. From being a married man with 3 Egyptian Cats, to regularly participating in Sword Fighting, or even being a Metalhead, Daniel Valdes fulfills all the expectations of a leader, who is a complete mixture of technical, creative and business expertise.
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