What if you could land a job, or fund your next project, without a traditional resume, just by proving what you have already done? That is the idea behind Fund One, a Charlotte-based platform where people fund ideas, sell services and build what co-founder Edwin Rice calls a “universal resume” made of real proof of work.
In this episode of The Charlotte Business Podcast, host George sits down with Edwin for a wide-ranging conversation that starts with his unusual career path and ends with practical advice for anyone trying to find work, or build something, in today's economy. Edwin spent 10 years in finance and software development. He taught English in China, raised capital for a hedge fund in Hong Kong, advised on blockchain in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka, and served on the Miami-Dade County cryptocurrency task force. Now he is building Fund One in Charlotte.
Along the way, Edwin and George dig into why jobs come from people and not “the economy,” how a community can circulate the dollar instead of watching it leave, what inflation really means for your savings, and how everyday people can use AI to figure out what they are good at.
Edwin's story starts in finance and software, but it quickly leaves the usual path. He taught English in China and talks about what he learned from the business culture in Wenzhou, a city known for entrepreneurship. From there the conversation moves to Bitcoin, the Cyprus bail-in and the series of events that pulled him toward blockchain.
Edwin worked with the government of Sri Lanka on blockchain and tokenization technology, including the idea of a gemstone-backed digital currency, and later served on the Miami-Dade County cryptocurrency task force. He explains what those experiences taught him about how money, trust and technology fit together, and why they shaped the way he thinks about work today.
Edwin shares why he chose to move to Charlotte and how the idea for Fund One took shape. The problem he wanted to solve is simple: people do valuable work every day, but there is no easy way to carry that proof with you. Fund One is his answer, a portal for proof online where you can fund events or actions by your community, or book business, and then show what happened. That record becomes your universal resume, which can help you fund future projects faster.
The middle of the conversation steps back to look at the bigger picture: how the American economy and the job market have shifted, a plain-English explanation of inflation, and why Edwin believes the way forward leans on the creator economy and collaboration. He and George compare where the money is going, from Amazon to the service economy, and what that means for someone looking for their next opportunity.
Edwin reflects on Fund One's first year, including its biggest surprises, and the episode closes with the Charlotte Four segment and his advice for local entrepreneurs.
If you are job hunting, thinking about freelancing, running a side hustle, or building a small business in Charlotte, this conversation gives you a fresh way to think about proving your value and finding your people. It is also a good listen if you are curious about the creator economy, community funding and how AI can fit into your career.
Edwin Rice is the Co-Founder of Fund One, a Charlotte-based platform for proof of work. He has 10 years of experience in finance and software development, taught English in China, raised capital for a hedge fund in Hong Kong, worked with the government of Sri Lanka on blockchain and tokenization technology, and served on the Miami-Dade County cryptocurrency task force. Today he is building a platform for the future of work.
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