About Us

With over three decades of experience in managing innovative projects and high-profile human resources, Christoph Surgowt offers a unique blend of leadership, vision, and knowledge as well as strategic thinking about innovative business worldwide. As the Co-founder, CEO and Director of VAIOT Limited, Christoph is responsible for running all facets of the business, supported by a proven executive management track record in driving sales growth in the IT and media industry. Before joining VAIOT, Christoph acted as the Chief Executive Officer for USECRYPT S.A. From mid-2015 until 2018, he was responsible for the entire operational management structure and all sales and marketing activities, with a particular focus on the development of a new generation IT encryption platforms called UseCrypt Safe and UseCrypt Messenger, aimed at both the B2B and government sectors. Previously, he served for fifteen years as the Managing Director of ASTRA Poland and subsequently ASTRA CEE, belonging to Luxembourgish SES – the world leader in satellite operations, operating the biggest satellite fleet worldwide. Christoph has also held executive leadership roles in many other international companies. After more than a decade at Polish Public Television, he decided to enter the private sector, joining the German company Kathrein KG – one of the first world leaders in satellite hardware manufacturing. Subsequently, he became Deputy Managing Director of the South African/Dutch Multichoice EE enterprise. Christoph was chiefly responsible for the marketing and distribution of FilmNet, the first Pay-TV channel in Europe.

Researcher and R&D projects coordinator with a cybersecurity background. At VAIOT, leading and executing research and development activity as well as acting as a Product Owner. Previously an R&D Director and Co-Founder at Veriori (www.veriori.com), a next-generation product authentication company utilizing Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence. Responsible for concept design and implementation of Veriori’s products and technology. Before, he acted as an R&D Director and Co-Founder at UseCrypt (https://usecrypt.com/), where he was responsible for technology development and implementation of UseCrypt products. In 2009, he developed an innovative encryption method with the use of encryption key sharing. This technology is the foundation of the solutions offered by UseCrypt. Since 2004, he has been involved in the development of eighteen IT (Poland, UK) projects, mainly in the private sector. Speaker at several IT conferences and organizer of two TEDx conferences. Awarded, among others, with a gold medal at the Concours Lépine 2019 International Innovation Fair 2019 in Paris and a gold medal of the Minister of Defense of the French Republic for cryptographically secured 2D codes.

An early adopter of blockchain technology and digital assets investor since 2015. Specialist in blockchain technology and ICO industry. From the beginning of his professional career, he has been working on systems utilizing distributed registers for various business applications such as e.g. product and document authentication. He specializes in token economics modeling, product design, and management, trading strategies as well as the development of ICO marketing strategies. In the supported projects, he focused on the effective use of technology along with ensuring a high level of usability. Holding several years of experience in conducting IT training, including the creation of curricula and organization of training programs. Skilled in software development for industrial automation solutions. Before starting his professional career, he was awarded in few technical competitions, among others, by the J.P. Morgan foundation for inventiveness and innovation.

IT Project Manager & Operations Manager with Information Security, Audit & Compliance and Transition & Transformation (T&T) background. At VAIOT, responsible for the overall, operational project management, coordination across all functional areas and implementation of the project management framework and good practices. Previously, acted as a Project Management Director at Veriori S.A., where he was responsible for leading and managing IT & development projects (including international clients from France, Luxemburg, etc.). As a PM led international T&T, R&D, and audit/compliance projects for companies such as e.g. Atos or BNP Paribas and worked with e.g. Royal Mail Group, Aviva, Nomad Foods. Managed projects in the area of network infrastructure, information security, and systems development (over five million EUR) for institutional clients in the UK and Poland. Managed project teams 5-30 professionals. He previously managed Information Security & Audit structure delivering internal and external services, including the role of Internal/External Auditor and management of Infosec projects.

Anthony Blackburn is a marketing executive based out of Toronto, Canada. He has represented an array of large brands such as Pepsico, General Motors, Cadillac Fairview, Bacardi, and more. Anthony is responsible for the development of marketing strategy and branding, as well as coordinating and delegating the day-to-day marketing operations at VAIOT. His areas of expertise include experiential, digital, social media, and event marketing, specializing in detailed procurement of brand identity. He heavily contributed in the introduction of Bubly Sparkling Water to the Canadian market, as well as the re-branding of PepsiCo`s diet cola alternative, Pepsi Zero Sugar. Anthony has a passion for project management and is always looking to incorporate elements of agile and other project management strategies into existing systems. Anthony aspires to apply his knowledge and experience to the crypto space, aiming to shape the way future crypto marketing is imagined.

IT systems architect, security expert, open-source enthusiast. Studied cryptology at the Military University of Technology in Warsaw. Worked with multiple blockchain technologies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Hyperledger Sawtooth, and lastly, Tendermint. Took part in numerous projects related to public service and blockchain as developer and architect. Big fan of cloud and container technologies.

An experienced professional responsible for operational activity management and a lawyer specializing in the field of corporate law, personal data protection law (GDPR), and new technology law. For the last two years she acted as a proxy and legal advisor to the management board in the joint-stock company Veriori (www.veriori.com). Previously at UseCrypt S.A. (www.usecrypt.com), she was responsible for supporting product development in regards to GDPR, GDPR training for clients, as well as legal services and partnerships. Since 2009, she runs her own business, providing legal services, training, management, and consulting services with a special focus on startups.

Product Development Manager at VAIOT, responsible for the competitiveness and attractiveness of VAIOT’s products on the market, analyzing market & community feedback to enhance VAIOT solutions, managing and prioritizing the product’s backlog and planning the long-term product development strategy and driving its execution. Previously he has been responsible for the implementation and commercial launch of new digital products and services including complete digital platforms, funnels, apps, CRM and digital support at large corporates like Philips and smaller organizations including Bentley Systems and Reaal Insurance. More recently he has been involved as a Senior Product Owner in two blockchain start-ups, carrying responsibility for the MVP, whitepaper, marketing plan & product launch.

Gisele Schout is a marketing expert from the Netherlands, currently residing in Bogota, D.C., Colombia. Gisele has worked for several blockchain startups as a content specialist and marketing expert throughout her career. Her specializations extend to public relations, digital marketing, and developing marketing funnels. At VAIOT, she is responsible for planning, executing, and analysing marketing activities and content according to the marketing strategy. She will also be optimising digital marketing channels in collaboration with the Marketing team.

She began her career in the Talent Acquisition team at Nordea. Agnieszka holds a Bachelor`s degree in Management from the University of Warsaw. At VAIOT, she is supporting the project and operational management with a focus on product development process as well as regulatory and sale-related activities.

Daniel Lenikus is an entrepreneur from Vienna, Austria, who is involved in the blockchain & crypto space since early 2017. Over the last few years, he has acquired comprehensive knowledge in the fields of digital currencies, tokenization, and go-to-market strategy. For two years he is the CEO of BlockExpo GmbH which specializes in conferences, community building and strategic consulting. This has resulted in projects such as the ANON Summit (the largest blockchain conference in the DACH region), Vienna Blockchain Week and Block&Wine (Austria`s fastest-growing tech community).

During his studies in economic law in Vienna, Michael was deeply involved in developing various start-ups. Michael is a co-founder of BlockExpo GmbH. A Viennese company that supports the Blockchain ecosystem in Austria with conferences and strategic consulting. The flagship project of the company is the ANON Summit. An annual, two-day conference with over 1000 visitors from over 50 nations and a clear focus on blockchain use cases from different industries. Michael continues to be intensely involved in strategic consulting for companies and managers. As an interface between our marketing and sales department, he helps to optimize processes and drive growth through digitization tools.

Professor Olivier Hance, Ph.D, MBA, TEP, Esq. is Attorney (Luxembourg, Paris & Brussels) and Partner at Hance Law. He specializes in Corporate Law, Financial Law (Private Equity & Funds) Corporate & International Taxation. Hance launched recently the "International Association of Non-Executive Directors". Hance also authors and teaches on International Practice of Business & Tax Law and Entrepreneurial Finance. Olivier Hance also sits in many boards of financial holdings and funds as a non-executive director.

Founder Private Business. Club Co-Founder and CEO of ZELWIN.com. Rated Top 3 in People of Blockchain. Serial entrepreneur. The businessperson with 20 years of experience of owning different types of businesses, ranging from Ecommerce, FMCG, medicine and logistics to IT technologies. In parallel, he work as a mentor, advisor to help tens of projects worldwide. <br> - Self-Made Russia award <br> - Best mentor award <br> - Super TOP award (Business FM) <br> His Holding BaltShelf.com received "Enterprise of the Year" award.

William is an accomplished and future-minded professional with extensive experience in business development across varied sectors and global markets. A passion for tech & scientific innovation is his driving force. A native "Londoner" he now bases himself in Switzerland and most recently, he has led sales-marketing-business-product development projects with cutting edge Artificial Intelligence (aidock.net | quantship.ai), Blockchain (singular-point.com | cryptosociety.club ) and novel DNA test start-ups (swissdecode.com). William brings 25 years of negotiation experience from senior positions developing enterprise partners such as SGS, Cargill, ExxonMobil, Trafigura, BASF, Dow and Ineos. He also led pioneering entrepreneurial moves as Founder of London based companies Auriga; Waterline and establishing a new European department for SSY New York.

Head of Advisory Board and former (2014-2018) CEO of NEUROHM, a global technology provider in the field of applied consumer neuroscience. NEUROHM develops and licenses throughout the world innovative methods, metrics and tools that are being applied in market research, sales, HR and CX. Prior to joining NEUROHM in 2013, Jacek spent 7 years in retail banking working for several institutions in Poland, first as financial markets and macroeconomic analyst, then as project leader and product manager. In 2007 he was appointed Director of Retail Products Department in Postal Bank and since then he has held managerial positions in retail banking as head of product and business process development units. He was also responsible for running sales department and managing the whole retail banking division of a medium-size bank. Jacek holds a MSc degree in Finance and Banking and a MSc degree in International Economic Relations, both from the Warsaw School of Economics.