Web3 keeps calling itself the “global computer”.

Muriel Medard is the MIT professor actually making that true.

In this episode of DealFlow, Keira sit down with Professor Muriel Medard, co-founder and CEO of Optimum, inventor of Random Linear Network Coding (RLNC), and one of the core minds behind the “memory layer” of Web3.

They break down why blockchains are stuck on compute, what a real memory layer looks like, and how Optimum is already moving 15% of all staked ETH on testnet.

In this episode they cover:
• Why Web3 can’t scale without a proper “bus and memory” layer

• The DARPA story where her decentralized code was the only system that worked

• How Optimum P2P speeds up Ethereum consensus without changing the chain

• FlexNodes and why anyone with a laptop should be able to earn at the infra layer

• How she raised 11M and treats testnet like a mainnet dress rehearsal

• Balancing four kids, MIT, and being a first time founder in her 50s

• Her rule for careers and startups: “Do what interests you so you never regret the path”If you care about Web3 infra, decentralization, or what “real” engineering looks like in crypto, this episode will change how you think about blockchains.

Guest:

Muriel – https://x.com/MurielMedard

Optuimum – https://www.getoptimum.xyz/

Host:

Keira – https://x.com/RealMissAI

Dealflow Podcast – https://x.com/dealflowpodcast

MH Ventures - https://www.mhventures.io/