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18 | HARTFORD BUSINESS JOURNAL • DECEMBER 24, 2018 By Gregory Seay gseay@hartfordbusiness.com A lfred P. "Alf " Poor says his two decades of experience launching or advising technology startups is largely the reason Ideanomics is relying on him to transform its former UConn-West Hartford campus site into a fintech-development "innovation hub." Ideanomics is a newcomer to Connecticut, and many will be watching to see if it and Poor can deliver on an ambitious promise to turn West Hartford and the re- gion into a major player in blockchain technology — a decentralized digital ledger that records and executes financial and other types of transactions. It's the same technology that serves as the backbone to cryptocurrencies, though Ideanomics' business model has very little to do with them. Blockchain, Ideanomics and other promoters of the technology say, has the promise to one day transform and disrupt many industries, including the way companies access capital. The New York company made a splash when it announced in July it would establish its global headquarters for technology and innovation in this state, with a promise to create 330 jobs in exchange for a $10 million state-incentive package. The deal drew skepticism from at least one prominent Republican lawmaker who raised concerns about giving significant taxpayer dollars to an unproven startup. In recent months, Ideanomics, whose stock trades on the Nasdaq, has already undergone significant changes: it got a new name (it was formerly called Seven Stars Cloud), new leadership and has made several acquisitions. Its original CEO, Chinese media mogul and blockchain investor Bruno Wu, stepped down in November to take a role in helping improve relations between China and the U.S. CEO Brett McGonegal is his replacement, though Wu is still a close adviser to the company. 2019 goals In 2019, much of Poor's role as Ideanomics' chief operating officer — a position he's held since August — will be serving as his employer's primary voice and face as it literally and figuratively raises the profile of its planned West Hartford cam- pus, called Fintech Village. Ideanomics introduced Connecticut to Poor in September, when it simulta- neously announced the elevation of its then president and chief revenue officer, Robert G. Benya, to executive vice chairman. Benya now leads Ideanomics' effort to attract, retain and develop new talent. Previously, Poor, 49, was operations chief at Global Data Sentinel, a New York City corporate cybersecurity adviser. Three things, says Poor, a serial techpreneur from New Jersey who has launched or coached startups in cybersecurity, financial-services and blockchain technol- ogy, among others, will be central to the company's effort to build-up its West Hartford campus, whose debut date has not yet been set. First, Poor said, is integrating Fintech Village into the local community. Ide- anomics, which paid $5.2 million in October for the 53-acre site on Trout Brook Drive, is working closely with West Hartford land-use authorities on redevelop- ment and renovation plans for the property, he said. That means, he said, listening carefully to what town leaders and residents say they want from Ideanomics as their neighbor. One example, he said, is that among Fintech Village's publicly accessible amenities will be on-site walking paths/trails. Eventually, Ideanomics envisions, he said, investing $300 million to $400 million to build its innovation-hub headquarters, and staffing it with hundreds of workers. The plan includes turning the site into an incubator for blockchain companies. "It's very, very important that you align yourself into the community,'' said Poor, who spent time growing up in England as the son of a career Air Force officer. Second, Poor says he and and his leadership team have been contacted by a bevy of area colleges/universities, local entrepreneurs and businesses, among others, eager to partner with Ideanomics in developing and leveraging "the next genera- tion of financial-services technologies.'' Those potential partners, he said, are drawn to having a tech innovation hub in their backyards, similar to ones that exist in and around Boston and New York City. "You're seeing them gravitate to us because we're very close to where they are, where they live,'' Poor said. The third leg of Ideanomics' aims for 2019 is deepening the understanding of those inside and outside Connecticut as to Fintech Village's long-term goals and ambitions, he said. Ideanomics' business model is complex. Using blockchain and other technology, it plans to help digitally securitize assets, in the financial and media industries for example, which would then be bought and sold on trading platforms. "It's really important people understand,'' Poor said, "the type of technologies that we're working with because that will help us attract and retain the talent we need.'' Currently, Poor is commuting more than one hour each way between his home in Montclair, N.J., and West Hartford. But he says he's hopeful he can establish a Connecticut residence sometime in the New Year. Poor seeks to establish an 'innovation hub' in W. Hartford TO WATCH 5 TO WATCH