Web3 Innovator Brings Major Brands to the Metaverse, A Founder’s Story with Marc Seal

Marc Seal is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sortium Blockchain Studio. With over a decade of experience in the technology industry, he has a proven track record in leading teams to build successful products. Partners include some of the biggest names in the business, such as Disney, Marvel, Fox, Lucasfilm, Toho, MLB, and more. He is currently focused on applying blockchain and non-fungible token technologies to the digital gaming and entertainment spaces. His ultimate goal is to create an immersive digital experience that engages and entertains fans around the world.

I grew up on Long Island, New York with a very fortunate childhood having loving parents, family, and great friends. After 7 I lived with my single mother who worked tirelessly as a hairdresser to always provide a warm home, a good school (that I eventually dropped out of… sorry mom!) as well as strong cultural and moral foundations. My father had moved to Florida while I was young but it was the reason I started getting an interest in experiences and entertainment. By exposing me to early consoles, games, and film I really become enthralled with how these experiences were created.

I’ve always been deeply interested in exploring concepts of business, entertainment, and innovation. I had started some small businesses growing up even selling “in-game items” for some of my favorite MMOs & RPGs. My real “leap” into being an entrepreneur started when I had come up with the first concept and name for CryptoGene back in 2011 while staying with my father in Orlando. Then, during a family gathering after passing in the family, I had been speaking to my uncle Rich about how I was intending to join the Marines (I had already started the paperwork) after dropping out of high school and acquiring my GED. We spoke about my concept of CryptoGene and how I wanted to start the business but had no funding. He graciously took $10k out of his retirement to provide start-up capital which began my journey. That first iteration of CryptoGene never made it and I spent the next 14 years working on various startups building games and commercial applications, in government, getting involved in early crypto and NFT projects, and then eventually running the Star Wars digital business for The Topps Company and building the ToppsNFTs business onboarding brands such as MLB, Bundesliga, UEFA as well as working with brands such as Disney. Finally, I had met the right partners and had access to the right technology to bring CryptoGene back in the strongest way possible and started Sortium with my amazing cofounders Eaven and Alex with the goal of revolutionizing entertainment and digital experiences with innovative Web3 implementations.

Perseverance and Execution are perhaps the two most important things. Set your goals, learn from failure and successes alike but NEVER STOP. Pivot when you need to, explore new ideas but never stop moving. Perseverance will take you further and garner more success than all the talent in the world.