In this edition of Coffee with Calyptus, we sit down with David Dobrovitsky, the multi-hat founder, CMO of Cicada, and former CEO of FUNToken. David shares hard-earned lessons from leading teams, navigating Web2 to Web3 shifts, and juggling venture scouting with startup building. If you are building in 2025, this conversation is a must-read on clarity, authenticity, and sustainable execution.
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You've worn multiple CEO hats, from leading FUNToken through a 25% token price surge to now running Cicada's marketing division. What are some leadership lesson you learned in the journey that you’d like to share?
I’ve learned that a leader must always be hands-on in driving intent, positivity, and results. Whether as a CEO or CMO, you can’t simply hope for outcomes — you have to push for them.
That means being deeply involved in team performance, product development, marketing, positioning, storytelling, and community growth. Results don’t just materialize; they’re the product of consistent intent and the will to make that intent real.
Once you internalize that, you realize that clarity of purpose is the foundation of execution. You have to be honest with yourself about what you truly want to achieve — because internal clarity always translates into external results.
Between July 2022 and now, you've juggled being a VC scout for three different firms while running your own companies. How do you keep that "founder brain" sharp when you're constantly switching between helping others fundraise versus executing your own growth plays?
I’ve been developing startups long before I entered the Web3 space. My very first concept — which I built with my wife — was actually in manufacturing. I’ve always loved inventing new things, whether they’re products, ideas, or entire ecosystems.
For me, startups are the optimization of life mixed with a touch of magic — when done right, they make possibility tangible. Because I genuinely enjoy this work, managing multiple projects feels natural. Multitasking isn’t just a habit; it’s a skill and a mindset I’ve honed over time.
Beyond that, working with startups keeps my mind sharp, my creativity alive, and my analytical instincts engaged. It also keeps me plugged into emerging trends — a win for both personal growth and the ventures I help build.
How are you using AI or agentic automation to scale your marketing operations without burning out your team?
I use ChatGPT as a key part of my creative and research process. It helps me edit and refine my content, conduct deep research, verify references and citations, and even create illustrations for my blogs. From time to time, I also use Claude.ai to compare outputs — this helps me optimize both the accuracy and tone of my content.
Since many of my articles involve extensive research and source validation, having an AI assistant to cross-check data, identify trends, and surface relevant studies is invaluable. I’ve also experimented with using AI for video creation, though with more mixed results.
Overall, I find that AI doesn’t replace human effort — it enhances it. It helps streamline the creative process, reduces burnout, and allows the team to focus on strategy and storytelling rather than routine tasks.
For founders trying to make that same Web2-to-Web3 jump in 2025, what will be your advice?
My advice is simple: be genuinely passionate about what you do. When you truly enjoy what you’re building and it resonates deeply within you, that authenticity will naturally connect with your audience.
Don’t sell hype — share honesty. Be transparent and compelling about what you actually do. In the end, sincerity is the real differentiator. In a world overflowing with noise and pretense, being real is what makes you stand out.
Never compromise your core beliefs — they’re your signature. They’re what make your work authentic, distinctive, and human. Without them, we risk becoming just another layer of plastic in an already artificial world.
We hope you enjoyed this edition of Coffee with Calyptus. Stay curious, stay inspired, and keep building what matters. Explore more editions and insightful articles at https://www.calyptus.co/blog.
