VC Lead @ Yuma in Stamford, CT

DESCRIPTION As the Investment Lead, you will lead the end-to-end investment strategy for Bittensor’s ecosystem, TAO, and subnet alpha tokens, overseeing capital deployment, risk management, and investment execution. You will represent Yuma externally, engaging with key stakeholders, investors and partners to advance Yuma’s investment objectives and strengthen industry relationships. This role requires deep investment expertise—combined with a technical understanding of blockchain markets, decentralized finance (DeFi), and decentralized AI (deAI). You will oversee investment selection, sizing, and structuring, ensuring an optimal balance between liquidity, risk, and upside potential. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Own the full investment lifecycle—from sourcing and due diligence to execution and ongoing portfolio management. Develop and execute an investment framework for TAO and subnet alpha tokens, optimizing capital allocation across liquid and illiquid markets. Determine investment sizing for each opportunity, evaluating potential returns, risk exposure, and liquidity constraints. Structure investments with a focus on staking incentives, validator dynamics, and long-term token value accrual. Assess the impact of Dynamic TAO (DTAO) on market opportunities, portfolio construction, and investment risk. Oversee automated trading strategies, ensuring efficient execution of staking, liquidity provisioning, and asset rebalancing within the Bittensor network. Leadership & Execution of Investment Strategies Guide quantitative and algorithmic trading execution, leveraging smart contract interactions, automated trading systems and investment models. Ensure effective use of on-chain data analytics, helping to refine trading signals and market intelligence. Provide strategic direction on TAO and subnet token trade execution, position sizing, and real-time market adjustments. External Stakeholder Engagement & Representation Represent Yuma in investment-related discussions, fostering relationships with key industry stakeholders, including investors, partners, and ecosystem participants. Participate in industry events, panels, and forums to position Yuma as a leader in decentralized AI and investment strategy. Develop and maintain relationships with key influencers, thought leaders, and potential collaborators to enhance Yuma’s investment reach. Research & Market Intelligence Conduct in-depth technical and financial analysis of TAO, subnet tokens, and broader crypto ecosystems (DeFi, L1s, L2s, deAI). Develop valuation models for token investments, integrating on-chain data, staking mechanisms, and liquidity constraints. Monitor and analyze the performance of subnet alpha tokens, validator rewards, and staking dynamics to optimize returns. Maintain and oversee analytics dashboards to track key on-chain metrics, investment KPIs, and market trends. Stay ahead of crypto regulatory changes, evaluating potential impact on Bittensor’s investment strategy. Portfolio & Risk Management Oversee and manage a portfolio of TAO and subnet token investments, ensuring risk-adjusted returns. Identify and mitigate market, liquidity, and counterparty risks, particularly in decentralized trading environments. Oversee portfolio rebalancing and dynamic liquidity management, adjusting exposure based on market conditions. Create investment reports and dashboards, providing regular updates to executive leadership on portfolio performance and strategic adjustments. QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance, Economics, Engineering, Computer Science, or related fields. 3+ years of experience in venture capital, private equity, hedge funds, or digital asset investment roles. Deep expertise in blockchain investments, including DeFi, L1/L2 ecosystems, decentralized AI, and staking economies. Strong understanding of Bittensor, TAO, and subnet tokenomics, with experience in validator dynamics and protocol incentives. Experience overseeing algorithmic trading or automated execution strategies in digital assets. Proficiency in on-chain analytics tools such as Dune Analytics, Nansen, Flipside Crypto, or similar platforms. Technical fluency in smart contract interactions, blockchain data, and automated trading mechanisms (Python, SQL, Solidity preferred). Proven leadership experience managing investment professionals, ideally in a crypto-native or hedge fund setting. Preferred Qualifications Experience leading quant trading teams, algo traders, or market-making desks within digital assets. Familiarity with staking-as-a-service, perpetual futures, structured DeFi products, and liquidity mining strategies. Prior experience working with decentralized asset management frameworks. WHAT WE OFFER An opportunity to thrive in a dynamic, cutting-edge environment at a rapidly scaling company led by experienced industry leaders. An innovative learning environment where you can immerse yourself in the latest technologies, contribute to building a transformative new industry, and make a meaningful impact. Competitive base salary, bonus and incentive compensation. Unlimited PTO / Flexible time off – work with your leader to take time off when you need it. Professional development budget with flexibility for personal and professional growth. Outstanding health insurance for employee, partner and dependents. Life insurance, short-term & long-term disability coverage. 401K plan with company contribution. Flexible spending programs for medical and dependent care. Paid parental leave. Yuma is an Equal Opportunity Employer and embraces diversity. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion, marital status, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), gender identity, sexual orientation, parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, or any other non-merit-based factors protected under federal, state or local law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. #J-18808-Ljbffr