In the world of improv comedy, there’s one golden rule: “Yes, and…” It’s the foundational philosophy behind every successful scene. Agree with what your partner has introduced, and then build on it. Denying the premise kills the momentum. Embracing it opens up possibilities.
Think about the “You wanna hear the most annoying sound in the world?” scene in Dumb and Dumber, or the chaotic brainstorming energy of The Bear’s kitchen staff, or the meta madness of Nathan Fielder’s The Rehearsal. None of those moments land without trust, quick pivots, and the willingness to say, “Sure, I’ll go there, and here’s what I’ll add.”
It turns out, what works on film or stage works even better in the fast-moving world of web3.
At its core, web3 is about building new systems collaboratively. There are no pre-written scripts and no guaranteed outcomes. Founders, contributors, and users alike are writing the story together as they go. The best projects know that success doesn’t come from rigid hierarchies or top-down direction. It comes from adaptability, openness, and iteration. In other words, from “yes, and…”
Collaboration Over Control
Startups, especially in crypto, are exercises in collective improvisation. The tech moves fast, the rules and regulations change daily, and the script is still being written. In that kind of environment, the ability to say “yes, and” isn’t just helpful — it’s cultural infrastructure.
“Yes” is about listening. Acknowledging what’s been said or done, no matter how unexpected. “And” is about building — adding something meaningful, advancing the idea, making the next move. You can’t innovate by saying no to every strange suggestion. Nor can you survive by only saying yes and standing still.
This mindset is particularly critical in crypto, where market dynamics shift overnight and where builders often rely on feedback loops from community members, users, and fellow developers. But too often, projects stall — not for lack of funding, but for lack of movement. They’re safe but stagnant. The “yes, and…” instinct is what separates projects that coast indefinitely from those that experiment, adapt, and grow. A great founder doesn’t just preserve capital — they build momentum. They know how to say, “Yes, and let’s see what else is possible.”
The most resilient web3 teams don’t treat surprise like a threat. They treat it like a prompt. Think of Michael Scott in The Office, trying (and often failing) to understand improv’s golden rule. His mistake? Always going for control. Good improvisers — and good builders — know control is less important than collaboration.
Decentralization Needs Dialogue
Web3 isn’t a hierarchy — it’s a chorus. DAOs, open-source contributors, and protocol communities all thrive on iteration and contribution. But iteration without openness is chaos. That’s where “yes, and…” becomes more than a mindset — it becomes a governance principle.
A contributor proposes a wild new feature? Yes, and here’s how it might align with our roadmap. A community member questions a launch plan? Yes, and let’s model the outcomes. The default posture becomes generative, not defensive. This is how inclusive, sustainable systems are built, not through gatekeeping but through creative acknowledgment.
There’s also a deeper trust at play. In improv, the funniest moments come from troupes or teams that trust each other. In web3, the most productive collaborations come from communities that do the same. And nowhere is this more important than in partnerships. Everyone in web3 is infrastructure for someone else. No one builds in isolation. Business development in this space is improv at scale, and great collabs happen when teams meet each other’s ideas with openness, not skepticism. “Yes, and…” isn’t just good etiquette. It’s survival.
Experimentation, Not Ego
One of the core tenets of improv is leaving your ego at the door. It’s not about who’s the funniest — it’s about what makes the scene work. The same goes for product roadmaps, token designs, and ecosystem experiments. Not every idea will land, but each deserves a genuine moment of consideration.
In a space like web3, where every contributor is also a stakeholder, the temptation to personalize criticism or ideas is high. But the “yes, and” mindset helps separate identity from input. An idea that doesn’t work isn’t a personal failure. It’s just part of the creative process.
Teams that adopt this mindset create safer environments for risk-taking, and they ship faster because of it. They’re more open to being wrong, which means they’re more likely to be right in the long run.
Web3 Has No Script, That’s the Point
We’re building in the open, in real time. The rules haven’t been finalized. The audience might jump on stage. The scene partner might be an AI agent.
That’s the magic of this space. And the challenge. There are no guarantees. Protocols evolve, narratives shift, and the communities driving them are constantly in flux.
To thrive here, we need fewer gatekeepers and more scene partners. We need protocols that encourage experimentation. Communities that reward contribution. And cultures that know how to say: “Yes, and…”
Because when the entire industry is one giant unscripted experiment, the only way forward is together, with curiosity, humility, and a shared belief that the next line could take us somewhere better.
The Best Web3 Teams Think Like Improv Troupes
The builders shaping this new internet aren’t following a rigid blueprint. They’re following instincts, data, and each other. Every product launch, protocol vote, and community AMA is another scene in the world’s most high-stakes improv set.
So the next time someone in your team says something unexpected, don’t shut it down. Say “yes, and…,” then see where the scene goes. Because great tech, like great comedy, starts with a single brave line — and someone else choosing to build on it.
