Ciao – I'm René. I like a lot of things, perhaps because of the Gen Z attention span, but I'm not sure.

I started working in restaurants and then decided to learn more about tech. I've always been very curious, and thanks to that I picked up a couple of gigs here and there for small crypto startups.

Then in late 2023 I came across a founder and ended up getting a job at his company, Talus.

My whole life I've worked with people – in different ways, from different perspectives. Thanks to that, I learned a lot about why people buy and why people return.

I like challenges. Sometimes I probably create my own because I'm bored. But don't we all?

Work

• Talus Network

  Head of Community & Growth. First non-technical hire. Built the community from zero to 50k+ active members and 6k DAU at peak. Ran an influencer programme that generated 5.6M impressions, led GTM for an NFT launch that sold out at $124k+ primary revenue. Owned content, co-marketing partnerships, ambassador programmes (300 active from 3,000+ applicants), and the full token launch campaign with an 8-person global mod team.

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  2024–26
• Hospitality & Food

  Where it started. Six months as chef de partie in patisserie at a Michelin-starred restaurant, then three years running sales and marketing for an Italian "agriturismo". Started on the restaurant floor, then took ownership of everything customer-facing: e-commerce from scratch, Google Ads, social media, B2B wholesale relationships, and strong recurring revenue from regional fairs and trade events. The kitchen taught me method, discipline, and performing under pressure. The rest taught me how to sell.

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  2019–22
• Freelance

  Consulting, ghostwriting, and research. Wrote long-form threads and technical content for crypto KOLs, generating 170k+ combined impressions. Authored paywalled research on privacy, AI agents, and institutional adoption for a private investment firm. Strategy and positioning for early-stage projects.

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  2021–24
• Modular Labs

  A small Milan-based digital agency. Grew an Instagram account from 3k to 15k followers in 8 months through daily content on Italian pop culture. Managed a 300-member paid trading community. Led GTM for a fine art digital collection with sculptor Stefano Bombardieri: 76 holders, gallery exhibitions, live mints, and tier-1 Italian art press coverage.

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  2022–23

Personal

• Growth
  How things spread, how people stick around, and why most growth strategies eventually stall. The whole funnel, from first impression to long-term retention.
• Economics & Markets
  How financial systems work and why they work the way they do. The history, the politics, the incentives.
• People & Behaviour
  Why people do what they do. What makes someone stay, contribute, or leave. Psychology, incentives, group dynamics.
• Technology & Hardware
  Drones, robotics, hardware, AI tools. I don't build most of it, but I can't stop reading about it.