Marc Vanlerberghe is the Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer at the Algorand Foundation, where he oversees global marketing and strategic initiatives. He also engages in investment and advisory work within the technology and Web3 sectors. ^[1]

Education

Vanlerberghe graduated from Ghent University with an M.S. in Micro-electronics in 1987. He later pursued his MBA in Global Business at Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 1997. ^[2]

Career

Vanlerberghe began his career at IBM in 1988, where he held various roles over seven years, including systems engineer, product manager, account manager, executive assistant, and channel manager. In 1996, he worked briefly as a consultant at McKinsey, focusing on organizational restructuring in the telecommunications sector. He then joined Proximus in 1997 as Director of Business Development, overseeing the company’s mobile internet strategy and roaming business.

In 1998, he founded Quios, Inc., a mobile messaging company, serving as president and CEO. He scaled the company internationally and raised venture funding before restructuring it in 2001. From 2001 to 2007, he led eWingz Systems (also known as Quios), providing SMS integration services to clients in marketing and CRM. In 2007, he moved to Google, where he held multiple marketing leadership roles over nine years, including director and senior director positions for Android and Google Play, as well as vice president for access and energy initiatives. He also served as an advisor to Google Capital during this time.

In 2016, Vanlerberghe became chief marketing officer at Medallia, remaining until 2018. He then joined Rulai, Inc. as CEO, leading the conversational AI platform until 2020. Since 2018, he has been involved with Ridge Ventures as category lead for tech B2B software and a member of the CMO advisory board. He joined Hello Customer’s board in 2020, ARION’s supervisory board in 2021, and has been a global expert and limited partner at Blockchain Founders Fund since late 2021. He has also been a board member at Invibes Advertising since 2016.

In March 2024, Vanlerberghe joined the Algorand Foundation as its Chief Marketing Officer. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing global marketing functions, encompassing communications, branding, content creation, campaigns, social media, and event management. His appointment came shortly before the release of Algorand’s 2024 technical roadmap, which introduced upcoming protocol updates, including consensus incentivization and the launch of Python as a native programming language. He was promoted to Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer in 2025. ^{[2] [3]}

Interviews

Algorand's Real-World Asset Focus

In April 2025, Vanlerberghe elaborated on Algorand's positioning as a blockchain specifically tailored for real-world applications, emphasizing its leadership in the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) on the Bitinning podcast. He highlighted the platform's strengths, such as instant finality and low transaction fees, which address common challenges posed by other blockchains. Vanlerberghe mentioned Algorand's efforts to attract developers from traditional tech backgrounds by supporting popular programming languages, such as Python and TypeScript. He asserted that while decentralization remains a primary goal for Algorand, the foundation also seeks to maintain meaningful partnerships, particularly in India, focusing on projects that have tangible impacts. He indicated that Algorand's approach differs from many others by prioritizing substance over hype and maintaining a commitment to serious business applications instead of speculative ventures. Overall, the discussion revealed that Algorand's strategy centers on creating robust real-world solutions, in contrast to the more speculative narratives seen in the broader crypto ecosystem. ^[4]

Algorand Foundation's Ecosystem Support

In an interview on the Wolf Web 3 podcast in November 2024, Vanlerberghe discussed the Algorand Foundation's role in supporting and growing the Algorand ecosystem. He explained that the foundation focuses on enhancing the developer experience through improved tools, setting technical standards for blockchain adoption, and supporting entrepreneurs and builders in the space. Additionally, he shared insights into his journey to the blockchain world, highlighting his previous work at Google and his passion for technology. Vanlerberghe emphasized the importance of making blockchain accessible and understandable to both developers and users, suggesting that broader educational efforts and simplified user interfaces are crucial for mass adoption. He also hinted at exciting upcoming developments, including the launch of staking rewards designed to increase decentralization within the Algorand network. ^[5]

Transition from Android to Algorand

In an interview on the AllinCrypto podcast in October 2024, Vanlerbergh discussed his journey from working with Google to leading marketing efforts for Algorand. He reflected on his early career as an engineer at IBM, his transition to Silicon Valley, and his experience with Android during its formative years. Vanlerberghe emphasized the importance of user experience and developer accessibility in achieving mass adoption of blockchain technology, drawing parallels between the early smartphone market and the current blockchain ecosystem. He highlighted Algorand’s focus on creating a secure, efficient, and scalable platform, as well as its initiatives in diverse sectors like supply chain management and payments. Notably, he mentioned upcoming features, including staking rewards, aimed at enhancing network decentralization. Overall, the conversation conveyed optimism about Algorand's potential to facilitate real-world applications and innovations in both enterprise and consumer use cases. ^[6]

Presentations

Decipher Barcelona Keynote

At the Decipher Barcelona 2024 conference in July, Vanlerberghe delivered a keynote address emphasizing the importance of data in blockchain marketing and the need for a strong community. He introduced several initiatives, including a new metric hub for centralized data on Algorand's performance, partnerships with analytics platforms such as Nansen, and ongoing collaborations with Misari for accurate reporting. Vanlerberghe also discussed the launch of a refreshed brand identity, focusing on real-world scalability and the role of the Algorand Builder community. He highlighted efforts to attract Python developers through targeted campaigns and a new "learn-and-earn" program in partnership with Coinbase, aimed at familiarizing users with the Algorand ecosystem. Overall, the presentation underscored a commitment to enhancing community engagement, fixing data discrepancies, and promoting the Algorand brand in the blockchain space. ^[7]