As Co-Founder, Director, and CEO of Being AI Group, David McDonald brings two decades of groundbreaking AI, Web3, and digital transformation experience to the Being team.

David’s forward-thinking approach in transforming complex concepts into practical solutions positions him as a dynamic force in the tech industry, continually shaping new futures with innovative solutions whilst also understanding the commercial realities of technology-led ventures.

Having invested in and mentored many startups during that time, David also heads up the Ventures arm of Being AI Group. David founded Altered State Machine (ASM), which achieved New Zealand’s largest seed funding round, and comprised the largest piece in the formation of Futureverse, a $1billion NZD ‘Kiwi unicorn’. He holds a number of patents across Web3, Identify & Digital Ownership.

David enjoys restoring and collecting cars, with a particular love for JDM classics, doing wood and metal work and creating video games. David belongs to Ngāi Tahu iwi.