Jaeson Ma is a media entrepreneur, artist, investor, and creative executive whose career spans music, film, digital platforms, and Web3 technologies. He is known for co-founding the media company 88rising and for his work on projects that bridge entertainment and cultural markets between Asia and the West. His public commentary frequently explores the intersection of technology, culture, and digital property rights, with an emphasis on creator ownership and community-driven economic models. ^{[1] [2]}​

Early Life and Education

Ma was raised in a lower-middle-class immigrant family by a single mother in East San Jose, California. From a young age, he engaged in entrepreneurial activities, such as selling candy at school to help support his family. During his youth, he faced legal challenges, an experience he has cited as a formative period of his life. At the age of 17, Ma had a religious conversion and became a devout Christian, which he credits with redirecting his life path toward ministry.

Following his conversion, he began a period as a traveling pastor and preacher, where his performance style drew comparisons to hip-hop. He received early career mentorship from artist and entrepreneur MC Hammer, who advised him on the business aspects of the entertainment industry, including branding, marketing, and the importance of intellectual property ownership. Ma graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary in 2009 with a Master of Arts in Global Leadership. ^{[2] [3]}

Career

Ma began his career in talent management and cross-border entertainment projects prior to 2012, working with artists and ventures across the United States, Europe, and Asia through partnerships with firms such as Adventures Corp and Plan C Management Group. In January 2012, he founded East West Ventures, a talent management, production, and investment firm focused on media, entertainment, and technology.

In January 2015, he became a venture partner at Goodwater Capital, a consumer technology venture capital firm. Later that year, in November 2015, Ma co-founded 88rising alongside Sean Miyashiro. The company was conceived as a media platform to promote Asian artists and culture to a global audience. Ma's role focused on business operations, including fundraising, corporate strategy, and structuring the company. He was instrumental in discovering and signing the Chinese hip-hop group Higher Brothers, a key act in 88rising's early success.

In 2018, Ma co-founded the film and television production company Stampede Ventures. That same year, in May, he joined the Milken Institute Young Leaders Circle. From 2019 through December 2023, he served as a strategic advisor to the social media platform Triller. In January 2020, Ma became chairman and co-founder of EST Media Holdings, Inc., a media company with subsidiaries like EST Studios which specializes in the international sales and distribution of film and television content, particularly from Asian and Asian diaspora creators. He also became a general partner at Vancouver's Caravan Digital Studios in 2020.

Ma's focus on Web3 and creator-centric platforms solidified in 2021. In January of that year, he was appointed CEO of OpenWav, a music-focused technology company designed to empower artists. He also co-founded ZASH Global Media and Entertainment, a media and entertainment finance company. OpenWav operates under parent company OP3N LLC. The platform aims to provide artists with tools for direct monetization and community engagement, working with partners including Will Smith and securing backing from investors such as Animoca Brands, Galaxy Digital, and Warner Music Group.

Throughout his career, Ma has been an active investor in technology and media companies. His portfolio includes early investments in Musical.ly (which became TikTok), the Southeast Asian technology company Grab, and cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase. Other investments include Anthropic AI, Dark Horse Comics, and Wonder. ^{[2] [5]}

Creative Works

Music

Ma pursued a career as a musical artist, primarily in the Christian hip-hop genre. His work often blends themes of faith and ministry with musical performance. He has released two studio albums and numerous singles, including collaborations with artists such as Bruno Mars and DJ Mustard. ^[7]​

Discography

Albums

Year	Title
2011	Glory (Deluxe Edition)
2013	Confession + Resurrection

Singles

Year	Title	Notes
2009	"Love"	Featuring Bruno Mars
2011	"Glory"	Featuring Caleb Lin
2011	"Passion"	Featuring Calista Wu
2011	"Gratitude"	Featuring Joseph Vincent
2011	"Life"	Featuring Steph Jones; an alternate version featuring Bruno Mars also exists
2012	"Gold 1"	Featuring Bruno Mars
2013	"No Time"	Featured artist
2016	"Keep It 100"	Featuring DJ Mustard
2017	"Black Hole"	​
2020	"Sign of the Time"	​

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Type
2003	Gamer Nation	Host	TV Series
2010	1040: Christianity in the New Asia	Narrator & Presenter	Documentary
2012	Father of Lights	Himself	Documentary
2015	Seoul Searching	Special Thanks	Film
2015	Everything Before Us	Special Thanks	Film
2015	Man Up	Co-producer	Film
2016	Birth of the Dragon	Co-producer	Film
2018	Guardians of the Tomb	Co-producer	Film
2018	7 Miracles	Executive Producer	VR Experience
2022	Hidden Letters	Executive Producer	Documentary
TBD	K-POPS!	Producer	Film (pre-production)

Interviews

Indies and AI Music

In November 2025, Ma joined Wyclef Jean on the Kato On The Track podcast to discuss music, technology, and the evolving creative landscape. The conversation explored the decline of traditional music industry structures, with both guests emphasizing that artists must operate as independent businesses and build communities rather than rely on gatekeepers. Ma highlighted how algorithms can distort fame by promoting creators who may not fully develop their craft, while Wyclef stressed the importance of originality and deeper narratives in hip-hop. The discussion also examined the role of AI in music, noting that while AI can assist in production, it cannot replace human creativity or authenticity. Both guests emphasized maintaining the “soul” of music while leveraging technology as a tool rather than a replacement. Finally, they introduced Open Wave, a platform designed to empower artists by allowing direct monetization and management of their work, reflecting a broader trend toward independence and community-driven creative expression. ^[11]

Bringing Asia to Hollywood

In January 2025, Ma spoke with Elston Sam about his personal and professional journey, highlighting the experiences that shaped his career in media, music, and entrepreneurship. Ma recounted growing up in a lower-middle-class neighborhood raised by a single mother, selling candy as a child to support his family, and facing legal challenges in his youth, which he overcame through faith and personal growth. He described becoming a follower of Christ at 17, spending time in ministry, and receiving mentorship from MC Hammer, which guided his entry into the music and creative industries.

Ma discussed his transition into music, blending preaching with performance, which led to commercial success and collaborations with prominent artists. He also detailed his investments and influence in the entertainment industry, supporting startups like Grab and musical acts such as Higher Brothers, helping to drive significant cultural impact. Throughout the conversation, Ma emphasized the roles of perseverance, faith, and strategic relationships in achieving success and advised younger audiences to maintain resilience, learn from mistakes, and continually move forward. ^[3]

OP3N

In 2023, Ma participated in a discussion with Yat Siu of Animoca Brands at APOS, focusing on the principles and market dynamics of Web3. Ma described Web3 as a system of digital ownership that empowers users by granting them property rights, contrasting it with traditional Web2 platforms, where centralized entities capture most of the value. He highlighted ongoing innovation in the sector despite market downturns, noting NFT sales and the total value of the crypto space. The conversation emphasized how Web3 enables more equitable value distribution to creators and users, and how this model is disrupting centralized platforms. Ma also explored gaming as an illustrative example, describing the shift from renting virtual goods to owning digital assets. The discussion concluded with an optimistic outlook for growth in Asia and broader Web3 adoption, while stressing the importance of preparation for the structural changes the technology will bring to digital economies. ^[9]

AI-Powered Web3

In August 2023, Ma appeared on London Real to discuss his views on Web3, digital ownership, and creator-driven platforms. He described ownership as the core principle of Web3, explaining how blockchain-based systems can allow creators to retain control over their work and intellectual property while reducing reliance on centralized media platforms. Ma outlined the motivations behind developing OP3N, including enabling direct creator–community relationships, lowering barriers to participation in Web3, and supporting cross-cultural exchange between Eastern and Western media ecosystems. The interview also touched on his personal and professional background, the influence of the COVID-19 period on his thinking around NFTs and social tokens, and broader challenges related to usability, monetization, and decentralization in emerging digital platforms. ^[6]

Revolutionizing Media

In April 2021, Ma appeared on the Asian Hustle Network podcast to discuss his background and career in media, entertainment, and entrepreneurship. He described his upbringing in East San Jose, early creative and community-based ventures during his teens, and his entry into the entertainment industry through independent projects that built local and industry connections. The interview covered his later work, his founding and support of media and technology companies, his involvement in scaling digital platforms, and the challenges he encountered along the way, including business failures and personal setbacks. Throughout the conversation, Ma reflected on cultural representation in media, the importance of originality, and how his experiences shaped his approach to building creative and entrepreneurial projects. ^[4]

Presentations

IP & Communities

In October 2022, Ma spoke at TOKEN2049 Singapore about the evolving role of NFTs and Web3 platforms in enabling creator-led communities. He discussed the rapid growth and subsequent downturn of the NFT market, arguing that bear markets present opportunities to focus on building sustainable infrastructure rather than speculation. Drawing on the history of Web1 and Web2, he contrasted platform-dominated monetization models with Web3 approaches that emphasize direct relationships between creators and their audiences, where NFTs function as tools for ownership, verification of support, and gated access. He also highlighted community-driven models, such as DAO-based governance, and cited creator

• and fashion-focused projects as examples of how NFTs could be applied to coordinate participation, fund initiatives, and deliver exclusive digital and physical experiences. ^[10]