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Jack is the data scientist at Variant. In this role, he uses data analytics and modeling to help Variant and its portfolio founders make better data-driven decisions. Prior to Variant, Jack worked at Deloitte Consulting in its AI & Data Engineering practice focusing on big data, cloud computing, and AI applications. Jack has contributed to onchain data analytics and research for various protocols on platforms like Dune Analytics and Flipside Crypto. He is particularly interested in onchain identities and token distribution. Jack holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech. In his free time, Jack enjoys hiking, competing in triathlons, and reading.
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Education Experience
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David Zhou
David Zhou was previously Head of Strategy and Operations at Argus Labs and Head of Community and Growth at Chapter One.
Geoff Hamilton
Geoff is an Investment Research Partner at Variant, where he focuses primarily on DeFi. Prior to joining Variant, Geoff spent 15 years investing in private and public companies. During that time, helped start and grow five investment firms, including Askesis Capital, Dayah Capital, Sachem Head Capital Management, and Conatus Capital. Before that, Geoff worked at Bain Capital and Bain & Company and studied Economics at Harvard.
Jake Kim
Jake Kim is the founder of Mitosis and was previously the co-founder and CEO of Everett.
Alana Levin
Alana is an Investment Partner at Variant Fund. Her initial interest in crypto stemmed from a broader interest in public goods and financial regulatory policy– she spent a summer at the SEC and graduated summa cum laude with degrees in Finance & Public Policy from Wharton. Alana’s interest in crypto has since evolved to focus primarily on token design, governance structures, scaling costs, and privacy mechanics. She often writes about these concepts on her Substack, Back-of-the-Envelope, and on her Mirror profile. Prior to Variant, Alana worked as a consultant at BCG. In her free time, Alana enjoys running, writing, kayaking, and exploring old bookstores and cafés.
Li Jin
Li Jin is the co-founder of Variant Fund and the founder of Atelier Ventures. Prior to that, Li Jin was a partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z).
Mason Nystrom
Mason is an Investment Partner at Variant. Prior to joining Variant, Mason was a Sr. Research Analyst at Messari focused on Web3 protocols and cryptoassets. Before Messari, Mason worked at ConsenSys as a Content Marketer focused on marketing strategy for ConsenSys and its portfolio companies. Mason first entered the crypto industry as an Analyst at Gatecoin, the first cryptocurrency exchange to list ether, Ethereum’s native cryptocurrency. Mason obtained his Master’s in Business Management at Hong Kong Baptist University.
Derek Walkush
Derek is an Investment Research Partner at Variant. He got interested in crypto in late 2020 around DeFi summer after conducting high level research on blockchain as an analyst in Georgetown’s student-run hedge fund. Looking to learn more about the space, Derek interned at Accolade Partners, which launched one of the first institutional crypto fund of funds. His interest and conviction only seemed to grow; he soon dove into the on-chain world and became a part-time contributor at Index Coop and AladdinDAO; he was recently elected to Aladdin’s research council where he pitches stable farming strategies. After teaching himself SQL and working as an analyst for a project finance startup, Derek began writing for Spencer’s newsletter, OurNetwork, applying his interest in data querying and fundamentals analysis. Realizing the generational opportunity in front of him, Derek left Georgetown to join the team full-time in June 2022. His primary research interests are on-chain data analytics and token distribution. In his free time, Derek enjoys working out (former D1 rower), 90s movies, cooking, and traveling.
Brian Chu
Brian Chu has over 13 years of experience in the technology and gaming industries. Brian began their career in 2007 as a Developer Marketing Intern at Salesforce.com. In 2008, they joined Deloitte Consulting as a Senior Consultant, where they consulted for various companies in the Interactive Entertainment, Software, and Mobile Content industries. In 2009, they became Lead Product Manager for CityVille at Zynga. Brian then moved to Identified in 2012, where they held the role of Vice President of Product. In 2013, they joined Blizzard Entertainment as Director of Global Brand Management, responsible for global brand marketing strategy, budget, and execution for Heroes of the Storm and StarCraft 2. In 2016, they became Director of Product at Rocket Games, Inc., a company acquired by Penn Interactive Ventures in April of 2017. Brian then joined Electronic Arts (EA) in 2017 as Director of Product Management, followed by Epic Games in 2019 in the same role. Most recently, in 2022, they were appointed Head of Product Management at Big Time Studios, where they are helping to shape the future of how game companies will utilize the blockchain to put more value and ownership into the hands of their players. Brian Chu received their MBA from the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business in 2008 with an emphasis on Marketing and Technology Management. Brian obtained their BS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley in 2002.
Quinn Campbell
Quinn Campbell is the co-founder and COO of Superfine and previously served as Vice President of Growth at Sky Mavis.
Qi Zhou
Founder of EthStorage and QuarkChain. Web3 enthusiast, social experimenter, developer, and father. He completed his Ph.D. at Georgia Institute of Technology after receiving his master's degrees at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Georgia Institute of Technology. After graduation, Qi Zhou worked at Google, Dell and Facebook.