As ApeCoin DAO continues its transition into a more structured, strategic organization, a new wave of leadership candidates is stepping forward to shape the future of ApeChain and its broader ecosystem. Among them is All City, a twice-elected Governance Working Group Steward with a track record of hands-on contributions to DAO infrastructure, ecosystem partnerships, and public-facing initiatives. With a reputation for relentless energy, strong community ties, and an evolving focus on business development, All City is aiming to bring that same intensity to the newly formed Business Development (BD) Council. His candidacy centers on leveraging practical experience in both traditional and web3 sectors—from Canadian cannabis policy to ApeCoin-powered hackathons—and channeling that momentum into scalable growth for ApeChain. Below is the full Q&A All City recently provided, offering unfiltered insight into his philosophy, experience, and vision for what comes next.
Q: What does “business development” mean to you in the context of a decentralized organization like ApeCoin DAO?
Business development and ecosystem growth are critical drivers for any organization, decentralized or not.
Given the recent governance and structural changes at ApeCoin DAO, and with ApeChain now live, I still view us very much as a startup on the verge of a rapid growth phase. That’s why having a passionate core team of closers ready to get the ball from executive leadership is exciting — from brand partnerships and gaming integrations to dApps and the gritty work of securing major exchange listings for ApeChain adoption.
Q: What past experiences or achievements best demonstrate your ability to build meaningful partnerships or scale growth?
I came into Web3 as a Marketing Management student with experience in sales. Prior to that, I was deeply involved in Canada’s legal cannabis industry, guiding corporations through some of the toughest licensing processes in the country while serving as a public advocate for legalization.
As a twice-elected ApeCoin DAO Governance Working Group Steward, I co-founded the APE_U education program and helped onboard partners like OpenCampus and UMA Protocol. Since stepping away from an official role, I’ve continued to introduce new deals to the Banana Bill, two of which are launching on ApeChain. I co-hosted an ApeChain hackathon in Hong Kong, flown to Manila to speak on ApeChain at Jbond’s Dookie Dash event during the YGG Play Summit, and been onboarding NFT project founders from other chains.
Q: If elected, how would you prioritize different types of BD opportunities—web3 native projects, traditional companies, gaming studios, or creators? Why?
Well, these roles are being structured under the APE Foundation executive team, so aligning with them to identify priority areas will be critical before getting going.
A key lesson from the old Working Group structure is that too much autonomy can lead to fragmented workflows and misaligned goals. So after establishing a unified direction, we can start prioritizing as a unit.
Q: What’s one BD play you think the DAO has missed so far—and how would you approach it differently?
We’re not doing enough in Asia, where the opportunities are massive. I’d look to ramp up media outreach and ensure protocols on ApeChain align with a strong, cohesive brand identity. I think a dedicated BD team member should also be owning media relations to help shape the public narrative outside of our existing user base.
I bring a deep network of urban connections that would be interesting to begin activating as well, from skateboarding to the graffiti world – where a lot of streetwear brands are propagating out of.
Q: What role do you see ApeChain playing in the broader web3 landscape in the next 1-2 years?
Bored Apes should always play a central role in the NFT ecosystem, and by extension, Web3 as a whole. And while ApeChain is certainly for everyone, the BAYC brand recognition will always be a core advantage. That said, we can’t afford to miss the mark on becoming the culture chain we claim to be, where achieving this is easier said than done because as we know from living inside this NFT bubble, many of us involved in passionate subcultures tend to put up walls when outsiders and / or brands want in.
Also, like hello… Otherside!!
Q: What specific tools, incentives, or programs would you propose to attract builders, creators, and users to ApeChain?
Well, it comes up a lot that we need an incubator model, given my history as a serial entrepreneur with a passion for empowering our ecosystem through education and training, I would absolutely love to help establish it through APE_U. I also see real opportunity in rallying the MBA licensees to get involved with these efforts, particularly by helping transition their businesses to ApeChain wherever possible.
Q: If you had the power to execute one major deal or initiative for ApeChain tomorrow, what would it be and why?
Definitely a major exchange partnership, ideally in a jurisdiction which will allow us to be bold with it. I also have several culture-driven campaign ideas ready to activate.
Q: How do you plan to ensure long-term, sustainable value for ApeCoin holders through BD efforts?
Execution. With me, you get someone who doesn’t have an off switch. I'm wired to outwork most people, which doesn’t mean that I believe longer hours automatically leads to better results, but understanding when to push, how to prioritize, and staying relentless is what has driven much of my successes, so I'm sticking with it ha.
Q: What is your strategy for balancing hype-driven partnerships with foundational ecosystem growth?
Long-term deals like exchange listings require persistence and patience, but deliver perpetual value. Hype-driven partnerships have their place too, but we need them to be intentional as part of a larger strategy. Timing with these is also important, as trends can shift quickly.
Q: How do you see the DAO’s role evolving as ApeChain matures?
Well, it's no secret that the DAO has been a pretty big honeypot to those who knew how to unlock it for a while now, which in the end is going to come at the expense of real builders who could have actually delivered. And really, when we look deeper at that trend, it hasn't just limited opportunities, it's impacted our token price, integrity, and overall reputation in the broader DAO space. This needs to change — so seeing Yuga get more involved has been a breath of fresh air for a lot of the community, including myself.
Q: What kind of builder, project, or creator gets you personally excited to connect with?
Winning over creators who were initially skeptical of ApeChain is always a great feeling. And since the Working Groups wrapped up, I’ve onboarded several project founders to ApeChain for their launches, and would love to continue in that capacity. I also have strong ties to a variety of purist digital art communities, and would be excited to help make ApeChain feel as culturally relevant and “cool” to them as it does to us – as the home of NFTs.
Q: A year from now, how would you define success?
Success is definitely a team thing, and I want to see everyone winning because when we all win, the ecosystem wins. And when the ecosystem wins, ApeChain wins. But to be more specific, my primary goals will include locking in major exchange partnerships, helping to plan / execute at least one major IRL activation, and landing at least two big culture-driven plays. Plus founders. More NFT project founders!
Q: Why are you the right person for this role right now?
Made for this, and after bringing a variety of BD and ecosystem growth initiatives to the APE Foundation over the course of the last nine or ten months, I'm looking for a shot.
I also have no dependents and can travel as needed. No hidden agendas, no outside companies I’d prioritize over ApeChain, and I’m not a founder of any protocol already building here who will be advocating for the chain as-is.
I view this as a full-time role working on behalf of everyone building on ApeChain — not just us. Because if they fail, we fail.
Q: What strengths or relationships do you bring that will directly benefit the DAO?
I see BD as serving the whole ecosystem, including ApeChain builders. So I will be taking the time to know each protocol so that I can pitch our story accurately and be able to point leads to our success stories.
Key Takeaways
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Focused on execution: All City emphasizes outworking and out-delivering over theory or grandstanding.
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Deep Web3 roots: Formerly a Governance Steward, he has actively led initiatives like APE_U and hackathons while continuing BD efforts off-role.
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Builder-focused BD: His approach sees value in championing both protocol-level plays (like exchange listings) and grassroots creator adoption.
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Asia and media as growth levers: He believes ApeCoin DAO has missed opportunities in Asia and media narrative—areas he intends to prioritize.
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Team-first mindset: Acknowledges the importance of building a strong, aligned BD unit rather than acting solo.
As the ApeCoin DAO Special Council and Business Development elections approach, All City’s candidacy highlights a blend of experience, hustle, and vision for what ApeChain could become—if its cultural, strategic, and executional pieces fall into place. Whether or not you align with his approach, one thing is certain: he’s not here to coast. He’s here to build.
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