Meet TokenOS, a Web3 alternative to traditional equity management tools like Carta. Designed to streamline equity distribution in crypto startups, TokenOS promised a comprehensive solution for stakeholder and equity management. My involvement began at the project's infancy, with only a preliminary outline in place.
The primary challenge in Web3 equity distribution lay in its manual, cumbersome nature – typically managed through basic tools like Excel spreadsheets. While other solutions existed, they fell short, offering only tracking capabilities without the actual distribution of tokens.
As startups scaled, this gap in functionality led to overcomplicated processes and overwhelmed accounting teams.
Designing TokenOS was no small feat, considering the lack of direct analogs and a team operating on thin resources and an unclear vision. The design process had to be flexible yet focused, adapting to ongoing ideation and shifts in direction while maintaining a coherent design vision aligned with development goals.
Our guiding design principles were:
Simple: Ensuring intuitive use without extra guidance.
Familiar: Aligning with traditional token distribution processes, offering a straightforward experience akin to updating Excel sheets.
Scalable: Structuring the interface for smooth addition of future features, ideally using similar components to those in basic functionalities.
I played a pivotal role in every phase of development, from the initial brainstorming to the final quality assurance and delivery.
Despite targeting a narrow audience, valuable insights were gleaned from the team's experience and partner interactions. I delved into how Web3 teams manage token distribution and drew lessons from existing competitors and Web2’s leading player, Carta.com.
The research revealed that managing token distribution was a cumbersome and complex process, especially when updating vesting schedules and allocations.
The main business challenge was our limited resources, despite a growing list of feature requests. This underscored the need to prioritize essential functionalities for the MVP.
We meticulously defined each user journey, considering every possible scenario. To ensure consistency and future scalability, I collaborated with the front-end developer to create a compact design system.
The design process was dynamic, with extensive UI exploration and concept development before finalizing the scope and UX.
Throughout the development, rigorous QA ensured that core functionalities worked seamlessly and the interface remained true to the original Figma mockups.
TokenOS emerged as a formidable competitive advantage, now integral to the company's incubation offerings. Even in its MVP state, it stands out in the market with no direct competitors offering equally robust solutions.
The successful development of TokenOS also played a crucial role in securing additional funding for the company, showcasing its potential and innovation in the Web3 space.
The end :)
Akim Perminov