Hive3 is fostering a revolution in the technology ecosystem. Thanks to the vision of CEO Stacey Quackenbush, the company has developed an innovative platform that gives communities the power to do big things. Quackenbush, who founded the company with Mike, has a laser focus on Hive3. To him, it’s an arena where world technology meets human connection to foster real relationships and organic expansion. Troy Quackenbush, creative director, is a former immersive entertainment creator and blockchain educator. They just happen to be right about how the communities we build today can shape our world in transformative ways. Hive3’s mission is to remove barriers, enhance connection, and foster belonging among users around the globe.
Quackenbush's journey has been marked by significant milestones, showcasing Hive3's global appeal and transformative potential within the blockchain-powered professional ecosystem. Her leadership spreads to a fully distributed team located on three continents — all motivated by her passion and vision. Quackenbush has set ambitious goals for Hive3, to say the least. His big hairy audacious goal, he told me, is to produce $200 million in new revenue in five years, enroll more than 3,000 businesses and communities, and achieve 1.5 million active users.
This article delves into Quackenbush's vision for Hive3, her leadership style, and the company's innovative approach to community building in the digital age.
Stacey Quackenbush's Vision for Hive3
Stacey Quackenbush's primary responsibility as CEO of Hive3 is to bring the company's vision to life. Community Engagement at the heart of this vision is building a platform to help communities around the world more easily energize and live more simply, sustainably and richly.
"As the CEO of Hive3, my primary responsibility is to bring our vision to life by creating a platform that empowers communities to thrive in a way that’s simple and globally inclusive. At Hive3, we’re addressing a fundamental challenge—how to break down the barriers that weaken engagement and make people feel disconnected. My job is to lead our team in solving that challenge, every single day." - Stacey Quackenbush
Quackenbush is focused on removing barriers that dull engagement and can leave individuals feeling detached. She sees her role as leading the team in solving this challenge daily.
For Quackenbush, her experience with Hive3 started when she and Mike—her eventual co-founder—studied together in a global AI class. Her diverse background in immersive entertainment and blockchain education has been instrumental in shaping Hive3’s unique approach to community building.
Quackenbush considers her creative work to be intensely personal and consequential at the same time. Whether it's helping a creator monetize their passion, enabling a company to streamline operations, or giving someone their first real sense of belonging in a community, she is committed to making a difference.
"A big part of my role is to listen—to our users, our team, and our partners—and to translate their needs into meaningful solutions. Whether it’s helping a creator monetize their passion, enabling a company to streamline their operations, or giving someone their first real sense of belonging in a community, I see my work as deeply personal and impactful." - Stacey Quackenbush
Her leadership is characterized by a strong emphasis on listening to users, the team, and partners to translate their needs into meaningful solutions.
Showcasing Hive3 on Global Stages
From there, Quackenbush has been on a whirlwind tour showing off Hive3’s vision and real-world impact at major events around the globe. These include the Coindesk Pitch Contest at Consensus in Austin, the EDCON Demo Day in Tokyo, and the EthConnect Pitch Competition at Eth Milan.
Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. Following their pitching competition performance at EDCON, Hive3 were awarded a Circle Grant. This federal grant went on to prove Hive3’s impact and cement it as a leader of the innovative Web3 sector.
These appearances on global stages have been crucial in highlighting Hive3's innovative approach and attracting attention from investors and potential users alike. Quackenbush’s knack for telling the company’s story and showing what it has accomplished has been fundamental to its success.
Ambitious Goals and Strategic Roadmap
Producing the ambitious growth goals Quackenbush has established for Hive3 is no small task. Her overall goal, she says, is to bring in $200 million in new revenue within five years.
Alongside these revenue goals, Quackenbush plans to onboard over 3,000 businesses and communities. She has similar goals to hit 1.5 million active users.
These ambitious goals are now anchored by a detailed plan that describes the tactical steps needed to reach them. Quackenbush’s attention to financial success and community development reflects her dedication to creating a sustainable and impactful platform.
The Team Behind Hive3's Success
Quackenbush heads a team across three continents that is 100% remote. Indeed, she attributes her team’s daily dedication and brilliance as her biggest inspirations on a day-to-day basis.
Her leadership style has encouraged a culture of collaboration and innovation. Through a shared understanding and knowledge of diverse communities, this allows the team to do great work across state lines.
Hive3 might be thriving now, Quackenbush is the first to acknowledge that success is a community endeavor. She appreciates the unique perspective each team member adds to the creative process to help make the company’s vision attainable.
Hive3's Unique Approach to Community Building
For Quackenbush, the reality professionals face today demands tools that are as fluid and without borders as the environment they operate within. This is what Hive3 was created to do—a creative and inclusive platform.
"What makes Hive3 different? It’s the way we’ve built a platform that’s both innovative and inclusive, designed to empower businesses, communities, and individuals in ways no one else is doing." - Stacey Quackenbush
Hive3's platform combines blockchain and AI-driven tools. This further solidifies the company’s position to lead in many of the world’s fastest growing sectors.
"At Hive3, we’re addressing a combined (TAM) that exceeds $2 trillion annually, and we’re doing so with absolute confidence in the platform we’ve built. Our combination of blockchain and AI-driven tools positions us perfectly to lead in some of the fastest-growing industries in the world." - Stacey Quackenbush
Together, the platform’s architecture and offerings provide transformative power for businesses, communities, and individuals. This is what makes Hive3 different from other platforms that exist in the market today.
Quackenbush is quick to point out that Hive3 is not just another platform. It’s about staying ahead of the curve in a fast-changing industry.
"What we’re building isn’t just another platform. Hive3 is about leading the way forward in an industry that’s constantly evolving. It’s for the innovators, the builders, and anyone ready to embrace the future. That’s what sets us apart—and that’s why I’m so excited about what we’re creating." - Stacey Quackenbush
It’s made for those innovators, builders, and problem solvers who are willing to take that leap and shape that future. This pragmatic vision of the future is part of what gets Quackenbush most jazzed about what Hive3 is building.
Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Evolution
Still, Quackenbush is the first to recognize that being a founding has its own challenges. She advocates confronting those challenges directly and learning to flourish in the midst of them.
"Every day, a founder faces new challenges, and to succeed, you must face them and thrive on them. You must find purpose in rallying your team to overcome obstacles and embrace moments of defeat—not as failures but as valuable lessons shaping the path forward. The key is confronting these moments with courage, iterating quickly, and adapting with intention. I always tell my team: It’s not a moment of defeat—it’s inspiration for evolution." - Stacey Quackenbush
As a leader, she finds purpose in galvanizing the team to rise above challenges. Rather, moments of thwarting should be accepted not as defeats but instead as useful teachings.
What’s important is to face these moments with bravery, iterate at warp speed, and pivot in a purposeful direction. She motivates her staff by positioning failures as motivation for transformation.
Creating Meaningful Moments and Building Connections
Quackenbush's experience as a founder has been filled with countless meaningful moments that remind her why Hive3's work is so impactful. She remembers one telling example that just goes to the heart of what Hive3 is trying to do.
"Inside this virtual world, avatars danced, people texted each other, and everyone showed up in their best “phygital” looks. Some even turned on their cameras, which, in our platform, creates a thought bubble above their avatar that shows the person in real-time—a personal touch that bridges the gap between virtual and the physical." - Stacey Quackenbush
It’s this added personal touch that helps connect the digital and real worlds. This results in a new experience that’s effective and fun for users.
"Moments like that are why Hive3 exists. It’s not just a platform; it’s a space where technology and humanity come together in the most beautiful way. That kind of network effect? You can’t buy it. It’s earned, moment by moment, through the lives we touch. And for that, I’m profoundly grateful." - Stacey Quackenbush
Moments like this are why Hive3 was formed in the first place—from the synergy between technology and humanity. Their network effect is not captured in clicks, but rather in the lives they touch.
Quackenbush couldn’t be more thankful for this opportunity to build a space like this.
Fundraising and Representing the Hive3 Vision
Beyond bridging these divides, fundraising is the other half of Quackenbush’s remit as CEO. She’s all too aware of the tremendous responsibility that comes with the awesome power of winning resources for the company.
"When I fundraise, I carry more than the responsibility of securing resources—I carry the weight of representing the entire Hive3 team and the vision we’ve worked tirelessly to bring to life. That responsibility is one I hold with immense pride and purpose. This shared commitment and belief in our mission propels us forward and positions Hive3 to create a truly transformative impact." - Stacey Quackenbush
In addition, she bears the tremendous burden of having to represent the whole Hive3 team and its vision. With deep pride of purpose, that responsibility rests.
It is the combined commitment to and belief in their mission that continues to cut the path forward for Hive3. Taken together, it gives the company enormous potential to drive a transformational positive impact.
Inspiring Through Technology and Community
To Quackenbush, it is part of her job to motivate others just by the weight of her leadership. Her goal, she says, is to “illustrate what happens when technology is leveraged to connect people.”
"Finally, as a leader, I see it as my responsibility to inspire—to show what’s possible when technology is used to bring people together. I’m driven by the belief that the communities we build today can shape the future in profound ways. At Hive3, we’re not just building a platform; we’re building a movement and a way to deepen the connections between people around the globe." - Stacey Quackenbush
She is motivated by the conviction that the communities we create today will determine our planetary tomorrow. At Hive3, they are creating a global movement to increase the number and quality of connections between people around the world.
Quackenbush’s leadership is really about a penetrating commitment to using technology for positive change. Sarah is a firm believer in the power of community to create positive, radical change in the world.
"What’s most exciting is that Hive3 is just getting started.” - Stacey Quackenbush
