Diana Cañas is a Colombian lawyer and entrepreneur who is the founder and CEO of 10KA, a phygital company combining the textile industry with blockchain technology, Web3, and NFTs. ^[1][2]

Education

Cañas attended the Arturo Tejada Cano Design and Marketing School of Fashion to become a fashion designer in January 2000. She graduated from The American University Corporation in Colombia with a Bachelor’s in Law. ^[1]

Career

Cañas began her career as the founder and CEO of Comercializadora Internacional Diesca S.A.S. in Medellín, Colombia 2011. In March 2021, she launched a self-employed venture in Dubai, where she restructured her business model in response to industry changes post-pandemic, focusing on linking physical products with NFTs to validate their originality. The company began incorporating NFTs and wearables into its limited edition offerings, starting with a presence in Decentraland and providing customers access to an exclusive private club. In February 2023, Cañas became the principal chief executive officer of 10KA in Dubai, where she continues to oversee business operations and strategic development. ^[1][3]

Interviews

Web3 in Dubai

On the Inversiones Dubai podcast, Cañas discussed how moving to Dubai transformed her life. Initially planning a vacation, she decided to stay due to the city's vibrant opportunities, particularly networking within Web3 and technology sectors. Despite her limited English skills, she viewed learning the language as challenging for herself and her children. Cañas shared her journey from entrepreneurship in Colombia to embracing the digital future in Dubai, emphasizing the importance of community building in Web3. She also reflected on her early involvement in cryptocurrency and the development of NFTs and digital assets for her footwear business. Cañas highlighted Dubai’s novel entrepreneurial ecosystem and her commitment to staying adaptable and forward-looking in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. ^[4]

Journey Into Web3

In an interview with Frow Coolture, Cañas discussed her journey and insights on entrepreneurship in the Web3 space. She emphasized the importance of investing in oneself and the critical role of knowledge in navigating new technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence. Cañas stressed the need for education on security, project evaluation, and avoiding common pitfalls like FOMO. She reflected on her transition from traditional industries, such as shoe manufacturing, to the complex and challenging world of Web3, highlighting the difficulties and learning experiences. Cañas shared her passion for her project, 10KA, which aimed to authenticate physical products using NFTs, combat counterfeiting, and provide utility in digital and virtual environments like Fortnite. Throughout the conversation, she emphasized the need for financial and regulatory awareness in crypto and critically viewed the misconceptions surrounding decentralization and Bitcoin. ^[5]