The Next Wave of Innovation: A Fireside Chat with Top Blockchain VCs and Operators

Ray is a seasoned venture capitalist with over 20 years of investing experience across a wide range of industries and geographies. Before joining Alumni Ventures, Ray was a partner and adviser at several global venture funds focusing on AI, Web3, FinTech and SaaS investment opportunities across the U.S. and Asia Pacific. Earlier, he spent more than 10 years in the corporate venture space: He was the managing director of HP’s new business ventures, responsible for startup technology evaluation, new business incubation, VC relationships, and minority investments, and earlier at Cisco Systems, holding several senior positions leading investment, M&A, internal incubation, and global consulting. Previously, Ray was a managing partner of a leading Internet consulting firm working with Fortune 1000 companies across North America. He earned a dual MBA degree from the University of California, Berkeley and Columbia University.

Jack Statza brings extensive deep-tech venture investing expertise across various sectors and stages to his role at Alumni Ventures. Previously, he was a venture investor at Allstate Strategic Ventures, focusing on AI, Blockchain, and FinTech for Allstate Insurance Company. Before joining Allstate, Jack worked in investment banking at Lazard and Livingstone, executing M&A transactions for technology clients. He also served as a valuation associate at Northern Trust Corporation, where he gained a deep understanding of financial markets and valuing investments. Jack has been actively involved in the blockchain space since mining Bitcoin in 2010 and in AI since investing in the space at Allstate in 2016. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a BBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and is a CFA charterholder.

 Rich is responsible for developing and executing Google Cloud’s vision dating back to 2019, and works closely with senior leaders across Alphabet on navigating the challenges facing a public company participating in blockchain-based ecosystems with a keen focus on regulatory strategy. Before Google, Rich was a litigator and regulatory lawyer during the ICO boom – during that time, he became a trusted advisor to founders based on his strategic advice navigating various legal and regulatory challenges in the cryptocurrency space.  He is a frequent speaker and author on the intersection between the law and cryptocurrency and is a guest lecturer on cryptocurrency for the Federal Bar Association.

Benjamin is primarily focused on fintech and crypto investment verticals with SoftBank. Prior toSoftBank, he spent 1.5 years at Southern Cross Group, a LatAm PE shop, and before that, he was an investment banker at JPMorgan.

Kinjal leads Blockchain Capital’s research content strategy, conducts investment diligence, and supports our portfolio companies.  At Blockchain Capital, she takes an interdisciplinary approach to investing in crypto, with a focus on consumer. Prior to joining Blockchain Capital, Kinjal was a Senior Consulting Analyst at Fidelity Investments in Boston. At Fidelity, Kinjal was an integral part of the strategic team developing Fidelity’s blockchain initiatives, as well as the strategy behind new asset management products. Kinjal earned her B.S. in Quantitative Economics from Tufts University, with a concentration in Entrepreneurial Studies. She is an associate member of Broadway Angels, a women’s focused angel investment group. She is a co-founder of Komorebi, an investment DAO funding female and non-binary founders.