Webinar
The Next Financial System Is Being Built Right Now: How Blockchain, Digital Assets, and Marketplaces Are Converging
Join Jack Statza, Partner, and Bryan Liu, Principal of Alumni Ventures’ Blockchain, Digital Assets & Marketplaces Fund, as they explore how the convergence of blockchain infrastructure, digital assets, and next-generation marketplaces is reshaping the global financial system — and where the most compelling venture opportunities are forming right now.
In this session, Bryan and Jack will walk through the investment thesis behind Alumni Ventures’ Blockchain, Digital Assets & Marketplaces Fund — examining how three powerful forces are converging to rebuild financial infrastructure from the ground up. They’ll discuss how blockchain is moving beyond speculation to power real settlement layers, how digital assets are becoming embedded in institutional finance, and how marketplace models are unlocking liquidity in markets that were previously inaccessible to most investors.
The conversation will also cover how the team evaluates opportunities across this space — from decentralized finance protocols and tokenized real-world assets to Web3 infrastructure and next-generation payment rails — and what separates durable, venture-backable businesses from short-term noise in a fast-moving market.
Whether you’re a current investor or exploring digital assets and blockchain for the first time, this webinar will give you a sharper lens for understanding one of the most significant structural shifts in modern finance. Reserve your spot to hear directly from the team building a portfolio at the frontier of the new financial system.
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Why Attend?
- HomeDiscover how blockchain, digital assets, and marketplace models are converging to reshape global financial infrastructure
- HomeGain insight into how the Alumni Ventures team evaluates and selects venture opportunities across the blockchain and digital assets ecosystem
- HomeHave your questions answered directly by the Blockchain, Digital Assets & Marketplaces Fund investment team
Rated a Top 20 VC Firm by both TIME and CB Insights.
Alumni Ventures is America’s largest venture capital firm for individual investors.
About your presenters
Overview:
Jack Statza is a multi-stage deep-tech investor who has backed more than 80 startups—nine of which have already exited—across AI, blockchain, fintech, and other frontier technologies. At Alumni Ventures he writes first checks as early as Seed and supports teams through IPO, accelerating their path from prototype to scale.
Before Alumni Ventures, Jack led AI, blockchain, and fintech investments at Allstate Strategic Ventures; earlier, he advised clients on M&A at Lazard and Livingstone and began his career at Northern Trust, pricing opaque venture portfolios.
Jack holds an MBA from Chicago Booth, a BBA from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and is a CFA charterholder.
Funds Currently Active On:
Blockchain & Fintech Fund
Investment Lens:
Jack focuses on multi-stage deep-tech investments across:
- Blockchain
- FinTech
- Artificial Intelligence
- Frontier Technologies
Select Blockchain & Fintech investments::
- Babylon Chain (Seed) (Token: $BABY) — lets Bitcoin holders “stake” their BTC to help secure proof-of-stake blockchains and earn rewards.
- Bluesky Social (Series A) — an open, decentralized social network where users own their data and feeds.
- Space and Time (Series A) (Token: $SXT) — a decentralized database enabling apps to query verifiable blockchain and real-world data together.
- Sahara AI (Seed) — a marketplace where developers can train, share, and sell AI models and data with full traceability.
- Napster (Series A) (Acquired by Infinite Reality) — iconic digital-music brand being rebuilt for virtual fan experiences.
Bryan is a Principal at Alumni Ventures with over 10 years experience in venture investing, M&A, and corporate strategy to identify the next generation of industry-defining companies. Bryan excels at identifying high-potential startups precisely before they scale. His current investment thesis is focused on the frontier of technological disruption, specifically the “Future of Media” driven by AI video; the rise of full-stack AI capable of building fully autonomous one-person-multi-billion-dollar companies; and breakthrough decentralized technologies and blockchain innovations that are redefining the infrastructure of the modern economy.
Prior to joining Alumni Ventures, Bryan led M&A and Venture deals at PayPal, where he managed and led seven major acquisitions totaling over $7 billion and a wide range of venture investments. Previously at Deloitte, Bryan advised global giants including Google, Disney, and Sony Pictures. He supported Disney through the acquisition of 21st Century Fox and the high-profile launch of Disney+, providing him with a unique vantage point on large-scale digital transformation.
Bryan led Alumni Ventures’ investment in Higgsfield, the “Canva for AI video” empowering millions of content creators and filmmakers globally. Higgsfield achieved a historic milestone, reaching $200M ARR in just nine months, the fastest growth trajectory in history outpacing OpenAI, Cursor, and Lovable. Bryan holds a BS from the University of Southern California and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Outside of the office, he is an active marathon runner and a former heavy metal vocalist.