Blockchain 101： 

Over the last two years, everyone everywhere went crazy about cryptocurrencies and in particular, the so called crypto gold — Bitcoin. Countless recent startups have been funded through virtual currencies like Ether as well. However, even though your parents have probably have heard about digital currency, it’s likely that they haven’t got a clue about the fascinating technology behind it called blockchain. 

But what it is that makes blockchain so special that more and more businesses in various industries are now adopting it? From finance and supply chains to healthcare and education, the potential applications of blockchain are limitless. 

UWC Changshu China Yushan Academy Centre for Design and Innovation will host its second Weekend Workshop open to local and wider communities.  We have invited the Dropchain team (http://www.dropchainproject.com/) from Shanghai to conduct an interactive, innovation workshop on blockchain. The goal of the workshop is to demystify the complexities surrounding blockchain technology, help non-technical young individuals understand the significance of this technology and its impact on society over the next decade.  

What is Blockchain?  

Blockchain is the technology that underpins the digital currency Bitcoin – but it has far wider applications and is being commercialised in a growing number of industries. It has generated much interest in technology circles and beyond, because of the new possibilities it opens up in financial services, the public sector and other areas. 

Blockchain and Bitcoin are not the same thing – Bitcoin is implemented using blockchain technology, but blockchain technology can be used in contexts much wider than Bitcoin or cryptocurrencies. The term blockchain refers to the combination of a number of technologies, including: 

● The blockchain data structure  
● Public key cryptography  
● Distributed ledgers  
● Consensus mechanisms  

If these topics sound foreign to you, then you should consider attending this workshop! If you’re interested in entrepreneurship and how to turn your ideas to a real world business, you should  

Agenda： 

1) Introduction to Blockchain and Dropchain 
2) Blockchain in our Daily Life  
3) Life of a Startup  
4) The Importance of Self-Marketing  
5) Blockchain Startup Pitch Competition (4-5 Students per Group) 

About Dropchain  

DropChain is an end-to-end supply chain ecosystem addressing the need for transparency and traceability in global food networks. We enable brands to track the movement of their finished products, gamifying and incentivizing each step of their supply chain, improving user engagement and supply chain data quality. 

We make it easy, simple, and inexpensive for global small and medium-sized brands to achieve higher visibility and traceability in their own supply chains at a fraction of the cost of an enterprise SCM solution. DropChain is already backed by recognized investors in the tech and blockchain space, including SOSV Fund (Chinaccelerator) and AngelVest. 

Workshop Host Facilitator  

Bill Chan  CEO & CTO   Billy Chan is a veteran of the IT industry, with over 15 years of software development, consulting, and sales experience in digital technology. Most recently he led the software antipiracy efforts for Microsoft in China. DropChain represents the culmination of his lifelong interests in technology, supply chain and good food. He has been passionate about Blockchain since 2015 and is excited about leveraging it to reinvent the food and beverage distribution industry.

Crystal   Head of Marketing(China)   Crystal is an entrepreneur and marketing/PR specialist with over 8 years’ experience working with high net worth individuals and Fortune 500 companies. As founder of consultancy firm TheGreatCrystal, she helps companies like Huawei embrace business process innovation. Crystal also founded e-commerce platform, EventDIY, and is a lifestyle blogger with 210,000+ followers worldwide.