The Exchange Announces a Blockchain Exploration Opportunity

MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The iconic Merchant Exchange Building in Memphis, Tennessee, joins international efforts in advancing new financial technologies.  The Exchange Project team, in partnership with The FedEx Institute of Technology, is spearheading a workshop on blockchain technology on May 15^th and 16^th at 365 Innovation Drive, Memphis, Tennessee.

The objective is to introduce this revolutionary concept, encourage collaboration, and investment.  The course will offer participants, who are unfamiliar with the blockchain but have an in-depth understanding of financial markets and instruments, a unique opportunity to explore the new technology and to learn more about the ecosystem of crypto-economy.   

The 20^th Century began with The Exchange Building as one of the key global hubs for commodities trading. Traders in cotton, corn, and other Southern staples would come from around the world to see innovation on the farm translate into the very best products available. Now, over 100 years later, the Exchange Building stands at the nexus of the virtual and physical world and is still adding benefits that distributed ledger technology can bring.   

The spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship that laid the foundation for the Exchange Building has been revitalized in emerging sharing economy financial technologies.  Through a novel exploration in blockchain applications, The Exchange is adding a new dimension to industry. No longer is a building just a building, but a multidimensional platform for engaging industries by leveraging resources as commodities.  Modern trade is no longer simply a transaction of funds; it is a nuanced integration of reputation, opportunity, and market demand.

This global concept resonates particularly with emerging markets that are competing to attract foreign investment.  By introducing blockchain technology to foreign markets with complicated domestic regulations, the Exchange will be able to facilitate transparent and legitimate transactions that are conducted in an ethical manner.  This will help to create stable exchange rates in countries with volatile markets.

Eric Matthews, Founder and CEO of StartCo in Memphis, says The Exchange Building has been an important enabler of the technology startup ecosystem by providing teams landing in Memphis from around the world flexible and affordable housing.  "Over 20 startups have taken advantage of The Exchange's facilities in the past several years," says Matthews.

Manager of Innovation and Research Support for The FedEx Institute of Technology, Cody Behles, says he is thrilled about the prospects of emerging technologies startups taking off in the city. "Memphis is a place with a long history of pioneering innovations that change the way the world does business. The Exchange Project that Gulam and Sardor Umarov are spearheading has all the signs of being another major Memphis-made innovation."

Memphis is a city of cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions for businesses. The Exchange Project takes this spirit of innovation to a new level by development of distributed ledger technology applications and promoting local adoption of crypto-economic business models.

To learn more about the workshop agenda, go to: http://www.memphis.edu/fedex/blockchain/

About The Exchange Building:

The Exchange Building at Court Square Park was completed in 1910.  It once housed the cotton and merchant exchanges where Memphis fortunes were won and lost. Today the 19-story building is participating in Airbnb's Friendly Buildings Program and continues to facilitate the growth of Memphis' leaders.  A unique housing arrangement has dubbed it a startup village where out-of-town founders of high-growth companies make their home while going through Memphis' accelerator programs.  Learn more at ExchangeSuites.com.

About The FedEx Institute of Technology:

The FedEx Institute of Technology is an advanced technology and research organization that serves as the front door to the research infrastructure and innovation capabilities of the University of Memphis. It functions as a catalyst for interdisciplinary research and innovation in emerging technologies by supporting cross-campus research innovation clusters. The Institute is also home to the University's intellectual property and patent repository which is the focal point of technology transfer and licensing operations. The Institute enjoys a unique innovation partnership with FedEx, which sponsors the Institute for advanced research purposes. The Institute is the central hub for efforts to maintain a cutting-edge innovative environment in the Mid-South region. Learn more at http://bit.ly/uofm-fit

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SOURCE Exchange Suites