In the quiet hum between old libraries and future ledgers, Knovel Protocol was born — a decentralized publishing platform built on the belief that stories are sovereign. When I joined the founding team as  Chief Product Officer, we were a tight constellation of technologists, strategists, and creatives. Our shared north star? To rebuild publishing from the ground up using Web3 tools that empowered authors, rewarded readers, and made ownership transparent and permanent.

The spark for this collaboration was lit during a Bitcoin Startup Lab cohort. I was building  Elibra, a Bitcoin-powered digital library, while Abbie — now my co-founder — had already created Fictive Labs, a platform grounded in similar values. We were introduced via email, and that serendipitous connection became the foundation for what would evolve into Knovel Protocol.

Our mission wasn’t to patch the old system. It was to replace it with something freer, fairer, and more vibrant. And that meant crafting not just a product — but a platform that felt like a portal.

We began with one truth: the publishing industry is broken — not because people stopped writing, but because power became centralized and profits rarely reached the hands that held the pen.

We observed 3 root problems:

1. Authors lacked ownership: Once a book was sold to a publisher, most rights were lost. Smart contracts could restore that sovereignty.
2. Promotion was exhausting and ineffective: Self-publishing authors were left to “hack” their way through fragmented tools with no feedback loop.
3. Reader communities were disconnected: Engagement ended at the last page. There were no ecosystems fostering continuous discovery, feedback, or shared cultural moments.

On the business side:

• Traditional platforms took 30–70% of revenue from book sales.
• There was no native way to incentivize early readers or superfans.
• Discovery algorithms often worked against niche or emerging voices.

This was our design challenge:

Could we create a publishing platform that gives creators ownership, readers agency, and communities coherence — without sacrificing usability or joy?

Create a decentralized protocol that:

• Encrypts books on upload
• Lets authors mint and sell finite digital editions
• Gives readers sovereign, resellable ownership
• Honors royalties and usage rights on-chain

With clarity of vision and a mission to empower storytellers in the decentralized era, I led the design of Knovel’s core author experience — a three-pillar system built to publish, promote, and participate.

1. Laying the Foundation: Web3 Publishing, Made Human

We architected a seamless onboarding experience via Thirdweb, allowing wallet and email login for mainstream and crypto-native users alike. Authors could draft, edit, and mint their books — all through an intuitive interface.

I worked closely with our blockchain developers to integrate NFT-based publishing with embedded royalties via smart contracts — automating payments to authors on every resale.

Why? Because creators should own their work permanently — and profit accordingly.

2. Igniting Visibility: Tools for Author-Led Promotion

We built a lightweight but powerful marketing dashboard: authors could deploy discount codes, trigger targeted email blasts, and monitor engagement in real-time.

Analytics were translated into visual feedback loops — a system of “reader ripples” that made momentum visible.
Why? Because marketing shouldn’t feel like rocket science. Creators deserve tools that speak their language.

3. Cultivating Belonging: Reader-Writer Connection as Utility

We launched with a curated set of classic books — anchoring the platform in literary memory while inviting immediate interaction. Comment threads, highlights, and discussion rooms seeded community dynamics.

Authors could see their most engaged readers, host live Q&As, and reward early readers with unlockable content.
Why? Because stories are not silent. They breathe better when shared.

• While still evolving, Knovel Protocol launched its MVP with a live product you can explore here.
  Note: due to ongoing development and privacy safeguards, live author environments may be limited to invited users.