The Ron Brown Scholar Program proudly celebrates Vernon Johnson’s (RBS 2016) latest entrepreneurial achievement. His company, Yup, has been acquired by thirdweb, a leading Web3 development platform. As the CTO and co-founder of Yup, Vernon has been at the forefront of decentralized social identity and Web3 innovation, and this acquisition marks a major milestone in his journey.
Redefining the Future of Social Media
Yup was founded to tackle the core challenges of today’s social media landscape—where centralized platforms control user data, restrict speech through opaque moderation policies, and capture the vast majority of digital ad revenue. Yup’s vision was to build decentralized alternatives that empower users, creators, and communities through open protocols, tokenized rewards, and censorship-resistant networks.
thirdweb recognized the immense potential of Yup’s mission and saw an opportunity to supercharge its own development of social-focused SDKs, providing developers with the tools to create next-generation, on-chain social applications.
“At thirdweb, we’ve admired Nir and Vernon’s leadership in the web3 social and identity space for some time. Their vision and expertise will supercharge our development of social-focused SDKs, helping us move even faster toward our goal of offering the most comprehensive, full-stack Web3 toolkit.” – Jake Loo, Founder & CTO, thirdweb
What’s Next?
As part of the acquisition, Vernon Johnson will join thirdweb as a Senior Software Engineer, where he will continue driving Web3 social innovation.
Although the Yup platform will be sunsetted in the coming weeks, the YUP token will remain decentralized and accessible to holders, ensuring that the core of their mission continues to live on.
A Legacy of Leadership
Vernon Johnson’s success as an entrepreneur is a testament to the power of the Ron Brown Scholar Program’s network, which cultivates bold leaders, visionaries, and innovators across industries. From scholarship and mentorship to professional development, RBSP has supported the aspirations of high-achieving Black students, many of whom go on to build groundbreaking companies, shape industries, and create opportunities for future generations.
Join us in celebrating Vernon’s incredible achievement! His journey from Ron Brown Scholar to startup founder and now a key thirdweb player exemplifies the leadership and innovation spirit that defines our community.
Support the Next Generation of Ron Brown Entrepreneurs!
Your donation helps us invest in scholars and alumni who are leading the way in technology, business, and social impact. Visit our donation page to contribute today!
