From Malta to the World: A Tech Journey

Zack Xuereb, a graduate from the University of Malta with a background in Maths and Computer Science, had a clear vision: he wanted to create real products that people would use. He felt that exams focused too much on memorization, which he saw as less useful for the future. Instead, he was drawn to the idea of building things with code. His first big project was Avail, a digital wallet that prioritized privacy. Built on the Aleo blockchain, Avail aimed to solve a big problem: blockchain transactions were not private. Anyone could see your balance if you had interacted with them. Zack learned a crucial lesson from this experience: talking to real customers before building anything is essential. He realized that the blockchain world often operated in an idealistic bubble, but products only succeed if they solve real problems for real people. After Avail, Zack joined Aleo in the US. He was there just before the company's public mainnet launch, a high-stakes moment. His role involved integrating Aleo into various platforms and traveling to cities like Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore, and Bangkok. He met with banks, developers, and strategic partners. This experience gave him a deep understanding of what it takes to build and scale a global tech company. He learned how to set objectives, measure progress, and build a world-class product. Exposure to different cultures also changed how he thought about software, seeing it as a global language rather than a local tool.Zack then noticed a significant shift in how the world searches for information. For 25 years, Google's blue links connected searchers with businesses, powering a $100 billion SEO industry. But AI tools like ChatGPT are changing that model. These tools are becoming a new gateway to information, and this shift affects how brands need to be discovered. That's where Meridian, his New York-based startup, comes in. Meridian analyzes which brands appear in AI-generated answers, the context and sentiment of those mentions, and the sources cited. This helps companies create content that AI tends to reference and optimize their web presence for AI-driven discovery. Venture capitalists were drawn to the size of the opportunity and the founders' ability to execute. However, the biggest challenge hasn't been fundraising but finding the right people. Building a team with the right mix of ambition, skill, and ownership is incredibly difficult. Zack's ambition for Meridian is to make every company discoverable and transactable in the age of AI. He also hopes to inspire Maltese students and young people to think globally and ambitiously. He believes that technology creates opportunities far beyond our borders and that the internet lets you meet anyone, build from anywhere, and compete globally. The key is understanding what you truly want out of life.