How I Became a Venture Partner at EMURGO Ventures

In our newest blog of the “My Journey to EMURGO” series, we talk to EMURGO Ventures Venture Partner Kaimin Hu about his role in investing in the development of the Cardano ecosystem, his career path to Cardano and blockchain, and advice for those wanting to work in Web3.

At the bottom, you can also find out how to apply for Cardano blockchain jobs at EMURGO and start a career in Web3.

Q&A with EMURGO Ventures Venture Partner Kaimin

Hello Kaimin. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Kaimin: Hi. I’m Kaimin Hu. I’m a Venture Partner at the EMURGO Ventures team and based in San Francisco. EMURGO Ventures is the venture investment arm of EMURGO and invests in Web3 startups and middleware companies that can bring value to Cardano’s Web3 ecosystem.

What’s your professional background?

Kaimin: I have 10 years of experience in the traditional fintech and blockchain industries with diverse experiences in technical research, product management, and strategic investments, including working at a leading global crypto exchange, focusing on investment, incubation, and listings for several years. I graduated from Carnegie Mellon University, majoring in Computer Engineering, and obtained a Ph.D. in Computer Architecture from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

How did you start working in blockchain and Web3 and how did you get to EMURGO?

Kaimin: I’ve known about EMURGO since its launch in 2017 and have followed the Cardano ecosystem since its early days. As mentioned, I’ve also worked at a leading global crypto exchange, but never really had any direct contact with EMURGO given our different geographical areas of business focus. Then, in 2021, one of my friends introduced EMURGO founder and CEO Ken Kodama and Chief of Staff Shunsuke Murasaki to me. We had several rounds of discussion about different topics and we aligned on many aspects of the future of the blockchain industry, Cardano, how to achieve certain business goals, and so forth. After that, I decided to formally join EMURGO and start a new journey in the Cardano blockchain space.

How is working at EMURGO different compared to your previous companies?

Kaimin: The crypto industry is still in its relative infancy and does not have a long-established history as other more traditional industries. So, the majority of blockchain and Web3 companies are not well-organized on the daily business operations side of things due to limited resources, but EMURGO is quite different in that regard. EMURGO is well-established with many different business units and talented, professional individuals working hard to build the Cardano ecosystem.

EMURGO is a founding entity of the Cardano blockchain, one of the largest blockchain ecosystems. How has working in blockchain and Web3 benefited your career?

Kaimin: I’m devoting all of my time and energy to my blockchain and Web3 career and the future of this industry. I believe that blockchain and Web3 represent a new revolution in the post-Internet era and I’m excited to see what changes blockchain can deliver for society with new products and services that can transform the way we live and work.

Watch: Video Q&A with EMURGO Ventures Venture Partner Kaimin Hu

What’s been your best work moment at EMURGO?

Kaimin: During crypto bear markets, other VCs stop investment and a lot of projects quit building. A lot of the craze and excitement leave crypto. But EMURGO has always consistently kept investing in blockchain startups and projects to put the focus on building socially impactful solutions that can deliver value to the Cardano ecosystem, regardless of crypto market conditions. EMURGO has the resources to continue investing during bear markets while most of the projects are at a very low valuation. This is a strategic “buy the dip” move and I’m so glad that EMURGO focuses on the long game by building and investing to develop the Cardano ecosystem and the blockchain industry as a whole.

What’s your favorite EMURGO employee benefit?

Kaimin: There are several perks & benefits but the annual bonus is the best benefit! A majority of other Web3 companies don’t have such benefits, but EMURGO fairly rewards individuals and teams that achieve their objectives.

What advice would you give to those who want to work at EMURGO?

Kaimin: If you are passionate about working in blockchain and Web3, and developing the Cardano ecosystem particularly, there are opportunities to bring your talents to EMURGO. Visit our career page (link below) and find the position that best fits your strengths and interests.

Tell us three fun facts about yourself!

1. I am a self-driven person.

1. I love to “think outside the box” to create new ways to incubate portfolio companies and achieve success.

1. I’m very organized so I make sure to clear and reply to all messages on all work messaging channels daily.

Searching for a blockchain career? Apply now!

Find current openings

Want to have a blockchain job and work on Cardano?

Then, apply now to EMURGO to bring your talents to the Cardano ecosystem.

Visit EMURGO’s official Breezy page here to browse the list of currently available positions and apply.

EMURGO is a founding entity of the Cardano blockchain. Based in Singapore with offices also located in the US, Europe, and Africa, EMURGO has more than 100 employees around the world and offers a variety of work perks and benefits for its employees including remote working opportunities, career advancement, and more. As a founding entity of the Cardano blockchain, EMURGO builds, educates, and invests in Cardano’s growing Web3 ecosystem.

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