Maria G. Salcedo

BizForge Design Solutions

From Solopreneur to Strategic Design Partner.

I craft captivating Web3 experiences that fuel user growth and brand recognition for ambitious startups. As a full-service agency of one, I wear many hats, taking ownership of all aspects of Web3 design projects, from branding and UI/UX design to crafting compelling marketing materials.

👉 Led cross-functional teams using agile methodologies to deliver impactful design solutions for a diverse range of projects (2D art, web interfaces, social media content, UI/UX).

👉 Collaborated closely with founders and developers to ensure seamless integration of design elements into applications.

👉 Within the Web3 space, this included leading the design of over 8 NFT projects, encompassing 28,000+ unique NFTs and 3,500+ conceptual assets (characters, PFPs, environments).

Let's discuss how I can elevate your project:
https://calendly.com/mgsalcedon/15min

Graphic Designer and Web Developer

Web3 Doers

I'm part of Web3 Doers PRO - Premium Web3 Growth community for Web3 Entrepreneurs - founders, consultants, thought leaders, builders, and content creators!

Our purpose is to create a diverse and inclusive platform that brings together Web3 doers and professionals from around the world, fostering growth, collaboration, and innovation in the Web3 space.

Our mission is to empower every community member to realize their full potential in the Web3 space.

Our vision is to become the world's leading community for Web3 doers and professionals, recognized for our commitment to diversity, collaboration, education, and innovation.

If you're interested in joining the Web3 Doers community, just send me a DM!

Web3 Doers PRO member

Lighthouse Cowork

Fueled community growth at Lighthouse, a crypto-friendly coworking space in Uruguay, by spearheading a cohesive design strategy across all channels.

👉 Crafted eye-catching social media graphics that resonated with their audience.
👉 Designed their entire website with Odoo website builder (They are Odoo Partners).
👉 Produced multiple offline and online design materials (brochures, pitch decks, etc.) that communicated Lighthouse's vision effectively to both crypto enthusiasts and traditional businesses.

Graphic designer 

Realtok

👉 Boosted brand awareness and user acquisition by collaboratively designing marketing materials across all channels (campaigns, social media graphics, website, branding assets, stickers, and print materials).

👉 Supported the sales team by crafting impactful graphic materials (stickers, banners, posters, and cards) that increased nodes per month.

👉 Leveraged design thinking to plan and create visuals for a new website.

WizBuds

👉 Crafted 2D illustrations for the NFT collection, website, and social media platforms, bringing the WizBuds world to life.

👉 Collaborated with a UX/UI team to design an intuitive and engaging website, resulting in a significant boost in traffic and user engagement.

👉 Created a suite of impactful social media graphics and web visuals that resonated with the target audience and strengthened brand recognition.

👉 Stayed ahead of the curve by identifying emerging market trends and incorporating them into the design process, ensuring WizBuds remained at the forefront of the NFT landscape.

👉 Collaborated effectively with the design team to streamline workflows, enhance team morale, and boost productivity in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

NFT Artist and Web Designer

UNEFA

If you've made it this far, you're likely curious as to how my background in Telecommunications engineering fits into my current business.

You see, being a tech enthusiast is an integral part of who I am. 

I have a passion for learning about innovative solutions, with a particular interest in IoT protocols and Satellite communications. I possess coding skills as well as the ability to create electronic circuits.

Now, I know what you're thinking: "What does this have to do with design?" 
While it may not seem related, I recognized the potential to leverage these skills in the Web3 space.

As a university professor, I often found myself teaching my students about Starlink and other technical topics. At the same time, I began freelancing and creating unique designs for clients around the world.

Despite being referred to as the "youngest teacher," I loved my job.

However, in 2018, I discovered Bitcoin and became in love with it.
One day I decided to focus all my efforts on designing for Web3 business. 

So I did.

And I won’t lie – turning my passion into a business felt incredibly good.
Web3 is the perfect match for creativity and tech.

So, how does being a "University Professor" make me a better Designer than I am today? 
1. It's easier for me to understand the technicalities of Web3.
2. I learnt how to explain complex things easily.
3. It's me being me. Authenticity rules!

Profesor universitario

Universidad José Antonio Páez

Professor & Lecturer – Telecommunications and Electronics Department

•	Use of technical schematics and manuals to understand operations and make successful repairs.
•	Communicate operational issues and changes to supervisor on regular basis.
•	Providing training and supervision for 6 new technicians and apprentices.

Assistant Electronics Technician – Telecommunications and Electronics Department

I help Web3 businesses improve their brand awareness 🚀 Brand Strategist | Graphic Designer | 2D Artist | Web Designer | I’m passionate about blockchain, NFTs and the power of building decentralized communities.

Hi! If you're reading this, it's likely because:
👉 You want to turbocharge your growth.
👉 You're a designer looking to improve your skills.
👉 You are a Web3 Recruiter looking for a designer.

After years of freelancing, I saw a gap – a need for design that spoke the language of Web3.

I can effectively communicate complex design concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences. I love working collaboratively with developers, product managers, and marketing teams. I'm always looking for new challenges and opportunities to grow as a designer. 

Building in the decentralized world comes with unique challenges. You need to stand out in a crowded marketplace, foster trust with a new audience, and create interfaces that are intuitive and secure. That's where I come in.

Here's how I help you win in Web3:

✅ Web3 Marketing: Create compelling marketing materials that drive adoption and engagement.
✅ UI/UX: Design user interfaces that are not only beautiful but also intuitive.
✅ Branding: Build a strong brand identity that resonates with your audience.

Ready to turn your vision into reality?

🔥 Book a discovery call:
https://calendly.com/mgsalcedon/15min

CORE Member

We are LinkedIn's first official Alpha group & social syndicate.

We work together to learn, grow and build on the LinkedIn platform to ultimately curate inspiration and motivation within our communities.

The community was initially created as a social experiment to see if 100 individuals could work together to help each other grow.

Over the past 5 months, every single community member has seen growth in their relationships, sales, content engagement & impressions.

This is all because we have no leader, we work together, collectively, as a unit to help progress each other's growth.

If you're interested in joining the 100 community, send me a DM!

Zack Deris

Strategic Advisor | A* Community Builder | Digital Transformation Specialist | Chief Growth Officer | Web3 Investor

At ZDTS, we've revolutionized how businesses approach sales by harnessing the power of AI. Our innovative strategies have attracted over 3,000 clients and generated seven figures in revenue, demonstrating a robust competency in high-ticket deal closures and inbound marketing. As Founder and CEO, my mission is to continue pushing the envelope in sales systems and marketing automation

Our passion is focused on helping Agencies, Marketing Departments & Independent consultants maximize their sales potential by utilizing social media platforms, building relationships and adding value to their clients. 

What you get: 

-Sales Workshops & Masterclasses
-Strategic Advisory and Consulting
-Lead Generation and Closing Deals
-Business Strategy
-Raising Capital

If you would like to apply to work with us, please send a detailed email to info@zackderis.com with the subject: “Service request” 
Thank you.

Founder & CEO

Welcome to ZDTS. 

We focus on simplifying the internet to help our clients grow, acquire new customers, and increase their brand visibility. 

Ways of working with us: 

- Web2/Web3 Marketing
- Advisory & Consulting services 
- Full sales takeover
- LinkedIn Live events
- Masterclasses & Workshops 
- Raising Cap

If you're looking to build a community, scale your agency, or improve your content production, please book a call with us via www.zackderis.com

PLEASE stop spending $75,000 a year on sales tools

This is the ONLY setup we're using for sales in 2026...

Apollo . io [$49/user/month] + Claude . ai [$17/user/month]

Total: $794/year

Apollo recent Claude MCP integration has sales team reevaluating their setups

I tested the full outbound loop so you don't have to 
[Setup takes 2 min]

1. Claude
2. Customize
3. Connectors
4. Toggle Apollo on

No API keys | No CSV exports | No tab switching

Here's what we did: 

1. Prospecting

Prompt: 
↳'Find CTOs at Series B Saas companies in NY, 50-200 employees'

Results: 
→Results returned in 10 seconds
→Claude translates plain English into an Apollo search
→Works for tech stack targeting, recently funded biz, hiring signals etc...

You just replaced Lusha [$3,000] and ZoomInfo [$25,000]

2. Enrichment

Prompt:
↳'Bulk enrich the following contacts and return their verified emails, phone numbers, and job titles'

Results: 
→Contact enrichment duration: Instant
→Company enrichment: Funding, tech stack, headcount, news
→Buld enrich 25 contacts: 100% accurate, written back into Apollo

You just replaced Clay [$8,500]

Apollo stays the system of record. No exporting, copy pasting or data loss

3. CRM actions

Prompt:
↳'Create a new record in Apollo for each of these results with the following details: First name, Last name, Email, Job title, Company, Phone, Location'

Results: 
→Creates a contact record directly inside Apollo
→Retrieves records with permission controls intact
→Updates an existing contact without leaving Claude

You just replaced Hubspot [$10,000]

4. Sequencing

Prompt:
↳ 'Search my Apollo sequences + find the best match for a contact who is a [Job title] at a [Industry] company in [Location] with [Employee range] employees'

Results: 
→Add contacts to sequences  in one prompt
→See all active sequences + live performance stats
→Remove contacts + check enrolment all inside Claude

You just replaced Outreach [$6k], Instantly [$5k] and Salesloft [$10k]

5. The full Outbound Loop

One Prompt:
↳'Find leads → enrich contacts → create records → add to sequence'

Results: 
→Done
→End to end
→One tab, one conversation

This workflow used to take hours across 8 tools. 

Now, it takes on prompt, in Claude, using Apollo. 

Don't believe everything you read on LinkedIn though. 

Comment 'PROMPTS' or DM me and I'll send you: 

1. My personal 21 prompt Apollo <> Claude Prompt Library
2. Full Claude MCP setup guide 

The Library includes prompts for: 

→Enrichment
→CRM actions
→Full outbound loops
→Sequence management 
→Prospecting and discovery

What used to cost $75,000 a year, now only costs $794. 

This is the future of AI in sales

Same output → One workspace

Thank you Apollo for making this possible.

BREAKING: Apollo just launched their MCP App on Claude!

I tested both Apollo's & Clay's Claude MCP so you don't have to:

Setup [2min]
→ Claude > Settings > Connectors > Apollo  > Clay

With both connectors live in the same chat, the execution test began

1: Prospecting & Discovery

Prompt: 'Find CTOs at Series B SaaS companies in NY with 50-200 employees"

Apollo:

→Claude translated the request into an Apollo People Search
↳Results returned from Apollo's database in 42 seconds

I also tested:

→Tech stack targeting
→Recently funded companies
→Decision makers at named accounts
→Companies actively hiring [Job posting signals]

Clay:

-Clay is optimized for enriching companies you already know
-It is not designed for broad discovery from scratch [without domains]

Dif:

✓ - Apollo enables discovery + search inside Claude
✗ - Clay Primarily enhances predefined lists

2: Enrichment

Prompts:

→Enrich a single contact
→Bulk enrich 25 contacts
→Enrich company [funding, tech stack, news]
→Pull job postings

Apollo:

→100% accurate enrichment on 25 leads
→Outputs were written back into Apollo
→Apollo remained the system of record

Clay:

→22/25 accurate enrichment results
→Outputs lived inside the chat session and didn't sync to Clay
→Preserving the data required exporting

Dif:

✓ - Claude pushed research, enrichment and data continuity into Apollo
✗ - Clay couldn't

3: CRM Actions

Prompts:

→Create a new contact record
→Update an existing contact
→Retrieve a contact already in CRM

Apollo: 

→Contact created directly inside Apollo
→Contact updated without leaving Claude
→Record retrieval respected user permissions

Clay:

→No CRM write functionality
→No ability to create or update Clay records

Dif:

✓ - Apollo enables real write actions inside Claude
✗ - Clay does not provide CRM execution in Claude

4: Campaigns

Prompts:

→Add a contact to a sequence
→Check which contacts are enrolled
→Remove a contact from a sequence
→Show all active sequences + performance stats

Apollo:

→Sequences returned instantly
→Performance stats visible inside Claude
→Contacts added directly to live sequences

Clay:

→Does not manage outbound sequences
→No execution layer tied to campaigns

Dif:

✓ - Apollo completes the outbound activation step
✗ - Clay stops at enrichment

5: The full outbound loop

Prompt:

→Find leads
→Enrich contacts
→Create contact records
→Add to a live sequence

Apollo:

→Completed full search
→No tab switching
→No CSV exports
→No API keys

Clay:

→Supports enrichment
→Does not execute full outbound loop end-to-end

Strategic difference:

Apollo turns Claude into a workspace | Clay is an enrichment layer

If your goal is drafting insights, both work
If your goal is running outbound, only one completes the loop

To help, I built 21 Claude-ready prompts for Apollo. It Includes:

-Prospecting
-Enrichment
-CRM actions
-Sequencing
-Outbound loops

Drop 'CLAUDE' below or DM me and I'll send you the library

Well done Apollo, this one was impressive.

PLEASE stop using 8+ platforms to automate everything. 

The 1% are switching to this tool in 2026... here's why: 

Most teams still duct-tape together: 

n8n
Make
Zapier
Albato
Workato
Integrately
Pipedream
Power Automate

And i'm not knocking them, each one is good at something. 

-Custom scripts
-Visual builders
-Quick automations
-Enterprise approvals
-Microsoft integrations

But it's not  2025 anymore. 

Together, they create: 

→Fragmented logic
→No shared standards
→Engineer bottlenecks
→Zero cross-team visibility
→Governance as an afterthought
→Workflows that break in production

So team keep adding tools, instead of fixing the system. 

What's actually scaling in 2026 is ONE platform that handles: 

→Simple automations 
→Complex branching
→Non-technical builders
→Reusable workflow logic
→Cross-ecosystem integrations
→Leadership visibility by default 

That's Activepieces. 

Not another automation tool
↳The execution layer. 

Zapier automates tasks
Make connects apps
n8n runs flows

Activepieces runs your organization. 

In 2025, you stacked tools. 
In 2026, you consolidate them. 

Ofc, this is biased, I get it. BUT, to prove my point: 

I've built 150+ automation workflows that you can plug and play. 

DM me or comment 'AI' below and i'll send them to you to test out. 

The future of AI and automation isn't 1000s tools. 
↳It's the tools that actually work.

PLEASE stop sending these messages.

This is the formula the 1% are using: 

95% of outbound fails before the first reply
Bad messaging kills deals before they start
Fix that today → Comment or DM me 'AI' for my templates :) 

These Messaging templates book us 100s of meetings a year. 

In the last week on January, I booked 27 meetings for February in under 3 days. 

I did it all  by using only Apollo, LinkedIn, Calendly, Loom & these scripts.

My Apollo AI System [Setup time: 17 minutes]:

-People search to build the list
-Persona to lock the ICP
-Verified emails only
-Buying intent set to high
-Save search + add leads to a list
-Sequences to run the 4-day campaign
-Call task on day 3 to book the meeting
-Loom video on day 4 [If needed] 

System for everything else:

LinkedIn
↳Engage in content and add value

Calendly
↳Qualifying questions to break the ice

Loom
↳Showcase social proof, workflow & testimonials

How I use the messaging templates: 

-Comment on their post first
-Connection request reference the post
-Day 1 email references the connection request
-Day 2 email is 2 sentences and pre-frames the call
-Day 3 call asks for a specific time for a 15 minute meeting
    ↳If missed, voicemail + short follow up email will be sent
-Day 4 Loom shows social proof, workflow and my testimonials
-Calendly Link is only placed strategically inside the Loom video

Why this works: 

-Every message has context
-Nothing sounds automated
-You earn attention before you ask for time
-Each step builds familiarity and trust, not pressure
-Apollo controls timing so nothing is rushed or random

This isn't volume outreach. 
↳ It's structured, intentional messaging. 

Comment or DM me 'AI' and I'll send you the full doc. 

And when you book your first meeting in 2 hours, come back and write me a testimonial lol

Please STOP using 8+ AI Sales platforms for your Outbound

We use 1 AI powered platform to book 117+ calls a month:

This month, we tested every major AI sales Platform - at scale.
We compared UX, pricing, features, data, AI and execution. 
Out of 9 tools and 11 categories, the winner is.... 

Apollo. 

Listen, I'm a sales trainer, I'm not here to hate on tools. 

Every platform in this comparison is good. They all have loyal users and strong products. 

But this experiment wasn't about "good". 

It was about one question: 

'Can any platform replace my entire GTM stack?' 

For context → I've closed 7 figs+ using Apollo . io
I've taught hundreds how to use the platform
I use it daily. My clients use it daily. 

So I know exactly what's required to run sales end-to-end. 

Here's what I tested across every platform: 

→Data
→Buying Intent
→AI research
→Messaging [Email + LinkedIn]
→Sequencing
→Workflows & automation
→Calls & dialling
→ Analytics across the full GTM loop

Not one-off features. 
↳End-to-end execution. 

Apollo was the only platform that checked every box in one place.

The other platforms does parts of the job well. Some are great at: 

-Enrichment
-Sequences
-Analytics
-Calling
-Data

But stitching them together means more: 

→Cost
→Tools
→Time lost
→Integrations
→Failure points

This comparison wasn't about replacing one tool. 
↳It was about replacing the entire stack. 

Sales, Lead Gen, Biz Dev, Messaging, Workflows, Analytics & AI. 

For teams that need everything working together, not duct-taped [lol]...

Apollo is the clear winner. 

That's not theory, it's lived experience. I spent at least 4-5 hours per platform doing the experiment. I've used all the platforms before, so I wasn't a novice user. 

If you're running a lean team, scaling outbound, o r supporting multiple clients, this matters. 

1 platform. 1 GTM loop. 1 Source of truth. 

No hate, no hype, just what actually works. 

To prove my point, I've recorded a 60 min tutorial on how I use the AI platform to consistently find leads and book meetings. 

Drop 'GTM' in the comments bellow and I'll DM it to you. 

P.S. - Am I wrong? Let me know. I'm curious what platform's y'all are using. 

Thanks!

PLEASE stop paying for Claude, Gemini & ChatGPT

This is how I use all of them for FREE: 

In the last 2 months, I've been running every major LLM inside one platform

No multiple subscriptions, tab switching or API connections. 

Do this: 

1. Go to Activepieces → Free sign up 
↳200 Monthly credits + a dollar for an extra 1000 credits

2. Click 'Explore' → Build a workflow
↳Choose from 200+ templates or 'Start from scratch' 

3. Add 'Ask AI' Step

→Inside the workflow builder, pick the Model 
   ↳[Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini etc]
    ↳Define structured output if needed
     ↳Write your prompt

That's it. The AIs will talk to each other and get the work done

You're now using any LLM inside an automated system

How I'm using the models: 

1. Claude → Long-form thinking

Workflow: 

A) New document uploaded 
B) Claude summarizes + restructures it
C) Generates Executive Brief
D) Sends to Slack

[Claude = Clarity + structured reasoning]

2) Gemini → Research + trend scanning

Workflow: 

A) New industry news
B) Gemini analyzes it
C) Extracts key insights
D) Drafts LinkedIn post
E) Sends for Approval 

Gemini = research assistant on autopilot

3) ChatGPT → Sales deal intelligence

Workflow: 

A) New deal created in CRM
B) GPT analyzes notes, emails + call transcripts
C) Predicts close probability & flags risks
D) Suggests next best actions

GPT = Revenue analyst

You're not replacing the models. 
You're orchestrating them inside one system

That's the difference between 'Using AI' and 'Operationalizing AI' 

Comment 'AI' below or DM me if you want my Activepieces Templates, which include workflows for: 

-HR
-Sales
-Marketing
-Operations

And every other department within your organization. 

I've implemented these templates for 50+ organizations this past month and they're all crushing. 

Huge thank you to Activepieces for making this possible. 

By far, the best AI Agent/automation platform I've ever used.

No alternative text description for this image

Last week, I announced 'I use only ONE Sales Platform'...

& LinkedIn went wild. The comments were insane...

-'We're in 2026, how can you only use 1 platform?' 
-How do you handle Personalization with only 1 platform'
-'You're capping yourself by not using several data sources'
-'You're left behind not using Open claw and Claude Cowork' 

But that was just a few, the rest were surprisingly positive: 

-'We have Apollo and looking to use it more efficiently'
-'We switched our entire GTM stack to Apollo last year'
-'Apollo has the best UX I've seen on sales platforms'
-'We've saved money and time with Apollo's AI'

Some get it and some will just follow the hype. 

However, there was one common theme though: 

Because there is so much you can do on Apollo, people have many questions. 

I like answering questions and helping people win with platforms that work.

I've spent the best part of the last 5 years: 

-Mastering Apollo
-Building step by step guides
-Generating 6-7 figures a year
-Running hundreds of campaigns a month
-Training Thousands of newbies on the platform 

Therefore, I've teamed up with Apollo to answer your questions. 

Brianna Chapman & I will be hosting a Live 2 hour Q&A on Tuesday, February 24th at 10 AM EST / 8 AM PST. 

I'll be offering guidance and resources on: 

→Workflows
→Sequences
→Lead Filters
→Buying Intent
→Best sales practises
→Outreach campaigns
→And so much more...

[Invite only]

DM me or comment 'QA' below and I'll send you: 

-RSVP & Q&A access
-All of my Apollo step-by-step guides

Over 2M+ people use Apollo everyday. Come and find out why.

taplio

The Battle

Maria G. Salcedo

Zack Deris

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taplio

The Battle

Maria G. Salcedo

Zack Deris

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Zack Deris's LinkedIn Performance

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