Variant

What does an Infrastructure Investment Partner do?

As a member of the investment team, you’ll work closely with Jesse, Li, Spencer, and the other IPs to research and analyze investment opportunities, with a focus on the infrastructure that powers new applications being built in web3 (e.g. novel execution environments, consensus mechanisms, zero knowledge technology, interoperability protocols, etc.). You’ll be responsible for:

• Interfacing with founders, builders, researchers, and independent analysts.
• Conducting deep technical diligence on new investment opportunities.
• Developing an authoritative point of view on individual projects and the categories of web3 infrastructure that they are building within, resulting in meaningful contributions to our theses on the characteristics of a desirable investment.
• Presenting analysis to the investment team in verbal and written research reports and investment recommendations.
• Sourcing new investment opportunities by meeting entrepreneurs through involvement in the crypto community, cultivating a network of researchers, builders and other investors.
• Leveraging expertise to help builders in our portfolio post-investment.

Qualifications (Need to Have)

• 4+ years of experience in an applied CS role or graduate program, focused on relevant “hard tech” disciplines such as cryptography or distributed systems.
• A native understanding or deep curiosity for web3.
• Ability to quickly synthesize disparate sources of deeply technical information and form a point of view, then communicate it  concisely both in writing and in meetings.
• High-energy, high-integrity, with demonstrated history of being an ‘owner.’ 

Additional Qualifications (Nice to Have)

• Deep intellectual curiosity: you are eager and able to learn new concepts and frameworks and keep on top of a rapidly-evolving space.
• Confidence to push our team’s thinking and deliver compelling arguments. 
• Be a detail-oriented self-starter, with strong organizational and communication skills and the ability to switch contexts gracefully.
• Ability to operate independently at a high level with limited oversight. 
• High EQ and ability to build and cultivate a network of long-term relationships.

 About Variant Fund

Variant is a seed-stage fund investing in web3. We are remote-first and welcome candidates distributed in the U.S. We provide competitive salaries and benefits including:

• Premium health/dental coverage
• Generous PTO
• Opportunity to grow alongside a leading firm in a fast-growing market
• Energetic, kind and mission driven co-workers.

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Why Now

Variant recently closed our third institutional, first-check crypto fund investing in the user-owned web. We are scaling our team to keep pace with rapid growth in the space.

Our team is at the bleeding edge of innovation in crypto, helping build a more meritocratic internet. We’ve invested in companies like Uniswap, Aleo, Foundation, Mirror, PleasrDAO, and Syndicate Protocol. We are continually seeking new ways to serve our portfolio companies, including helping them grow their in-house talent.

What is the Head of Talent at Variant Fund?

As Head of Talent, you’ll work closely with Variant’s portfolio, our core investment team, and growing portfolio support team to develop a distinguished and high quality talent funnel to help our portfolio scale. The job is a mix of recruiting and people practices.

We are techno-optimists who want to inspire builders and the general public about what is possible in web3, and we strive to help people understand crypto’s potential impact on society, culture, and the world. The Head of Talent will work closely with General Partners, founders, and subject matter experts to reach talented individuals and help convert them to full-time Web3 builders in the Variant portfolio. The candidate should be excited to take a creative and content-driven approach to sourcing candidates, and feel confident driving projects from concept to execution.

Position Overview

• Source key talent from a distinguished and high quality funnel, for Variant and its portfolio
• Advise portfolio on best practices related to hiring strategy, process, compensation
• Understand key drivers for talent getting into Web3, and develop strategies to accelerate it for the benefit of Variant’s portfolio
• Manage relationships with third-party recruiters, for Variant and its portfolio
• Source and maintain compensation data and best practices for crypto-based compensation.
• Create regular talent digests for the portfolio.
• Maintaining a network of recruiting, people and HR experts, pulling references, fresh ideas and perspectives to keep pace with industry best practices.

Qualifications

• At least three years of recruiting experience at a major tech company, agency, or venture capital firm. We are looking for experienced recruiters who can manage the talent pipeline buildout from conception to execution.
• Be excited to interface with some of crypto’s most knowledgeable founders, builders, researchers, and independent analysts.
• Intellectually curious about crypto and the future: eager and able to learn new concepts, conduct research, synthesize ideas from disparate sources, and keep on top of a rapidly-evolving space.
• Optimistic about tech and the future, and desire to translate it in an accessible way to the public & help others see what’s possible. 

• High-energy, high-integrity. We need a team player that is willing to roll up their sleeves and get things done.
• Demonstrated history of being an ‘owner’ or high-level of initiative in a prior activity.
• Agility and flexibility. Variant is a startup, and we will experiment, modify, and iterate based on lessons learned.
• Experience in working closely with senior executives & founders to shape ideas and pieces while maintaining their voice.

About Variant Fund

Variant is a seed-stage fund investing in web3. We are remote-first and welcome candidates distributed in the U.S. We provide competitive salaries and benefits including:

• Premium health/dental coverage.
• Generous PTO.
• Opportunity to grow alongside a leading firm in a fast-growing market.
• Energetic, kind and mission-driven co-workers.

APPLY

Why Now

Variant recently closed our third institutional, first-check crypto fund investing in the ownership economy. We are scaling our team to keep pace with rapid growth in the space.

Our team is at the bleeding edge of innovation in crypto, helping build a more meritocratic internet. We’ve invested in companies like Uniswap, Aleo, Foundation, Mirror and more. In addition to continually seeking new ways to serve our portfolio companies, we aim to explain crypto to the world and accelerate the user-owned internet – and editorial has been a key strategy. From seminal blog posts on progressive decentralization and the creator economy to op-eds in outlets like Harvard Business Review and The Economist; to influential Substacks with thousands of subscribers; to the inaugural Crypto Startup School, the team at Variant has long history of using content to influence and catalyze builders to get involved in and understand the space. Now, we’re looking for a seasoned editorial leader to take it to the next level.

What is the Editor in Chief at Variant Fund?

As Editor in Chief, you’ll work closely with the investment team to make Variant the trusted voice of innovation in web3. We are techno-optimists who want to inspire builders and the general public with what is possible with technology and what crypto’s potential impact on society, culture and the world could be. 

You’ll be responsible for crafting and building the editorial operation and setting the content strategy for our general partners and Variant as a firm. The candidate will also advise our portfolio companies on their content/editorial direction.

Our target audience is founders, builders, and anyone curious about technology. The Editor in Chief will shape us into the premier voice of innovation as it relates to crypto.

Core Responsibilities

• Develop the editorial vision, voice and strategy for both Variant as a brand and General Partners
• Expand and maintain editorial network to scale content production across various formats, including hiring and managing outside writers and editors
• Develop and maintain an editorial calendar, assign and project manage pieces from idea generation to publication
• Conceive, edit and co-write meaty and accessible pieces with differentiated POVs
• Keep abreast of industry developments and surface fresh ideas and perspectives
• Advise our portfolio companies on content marketing and connect them to suitable agencies and writers/editors
• Work closely with selected subject matter experts and help them express their experience, thinking and perspectives
• Advise internal owners on strategies for existing Variant-affiliated properties (Li’s newsletter, MoC podcast, OurNetwork)
• In partnership with a growth marketing lead, develop ideas for various story formats and approaches on distribution, run and measure editorial experiments, using analytics to iterate and to grow our audience
• Evaluate the success of our editorial initiatives

About you

• Proven track record of building the editorial operation and producing high-performing content
• Strong written storyteller with interest in developing content across channels (while we currently mostly focus on written content, we would like to explore other formats)
• Experience in and a passion for working closely with experts, senior executives, and founders to shape content and maintain their voice and perspective
• High energy and high integrity, who can work autonomously, manage their time effectively and get things done
• Demonstrated history of being an ‘owner’ or high-level of initiative in a prior activity
• A high regard for accuracy, including fact-checking
• Intellectually curious about crypto and the future, with an optimistic view about web3 tech: eager and able to learn new concepts, synthesize ideas from disparate sources, and keep on top of a rapidly-evolving space; crypto-nativeness is preferred but not required
• Agility, flexibility and creativity. Be comfortable with change and unknown, as we will experiment, modify, and iterate based on lessons learned

• Nice to have: a rolodex or network of trusted creatives and vendors to partner with

About Variant Fund

Variant is a first-check crypto fund investing in the ownership economy. We are remote-first and welcome candidates distributed in the U.S. We provide competitive salaries and benefits including:

• Premium health/dental coverage
• Generous PTO
• Opportunity to grow alongside a leading firm in a fast-growing market 
• Energetic, kind and mission driven co-workers. 
• This role can be done remotely from the U.S., the team operates on Eastern Time

APPLY

Why Now

Variant is built on the idea that the next generation of the internet will consist of products and services that turn users into owners. Every day in web3, we see this vision come to life. User-owned networks are growing bigger, faster than many of their traditional counterparts – and are paving the way for a more equitable internet.

We have been fortunate to invest in some of the defining projects in web3, and continue to support courageous founders who are rebuilding the internet, from developer-facing infrastructure and financial marketplaces to social media, gaming, digital art and more.  In addition to continually seeking new ways to serve our portfolio companies, we aim to explain crypto to the world and accelerate the user-owned internet. We’re looking for a seasoned communications manager  to join a marketing team at an early stage and drive real change for the firm and our portfolio at the bleeding age of innovation in crypto. 

About the role

As communications manager, you will work closely with Variant’s CMO to define the firm’s brand among web3 founders, the larger crypto community and inspire builders and the general public with what crypto’s potential impact on society, culture and the world could be. In this role, you will work directly with General Partners to refine their personal brand platform and manage their public profile as leading early-stage investors in web3. You will also interface directly with our portfolio as a trusted advisor and partner on anything related to communications. The successful candidate will drive day-to-day proactive and reactive efforts for the firm and support all parts of our marketing and communications function. 

Core Responsibilities

• Build and execute on a proactive plan to position Variant as the marque seed-stage fund backing user-owned web
• Develop a proactive personal brand platform for General Partners, including content and theses, executive communications, speaking opportunities, awards, etc.
• Coordinate public relations strategies, including messaging, content and media materials for the whole firm
• Work closely with the CMO on overall brand initiatives, including media engagements and dinners, portfolio workshops, content, etc
• Be available to all members of the marketing team team to share your experience and help with all facets of our communications plan on an as-needed basis
• Advise our portfolio companies on messaging and positioning, media strategy, issues management and internal communications
• Maintain productive relationships with media to support the firm and our portfolio companies
• Grow and maintain Variant’s marketing network of appropriate agencies and consultants with proven track record

About you

• 8+ years of relevant work experience at either a PR agency or on an in-house communications team 
• Proven track record of  of creating and executing on communications plans
• Experience with financial tech, crypto or deep tech
• Strong media relationships among reporters who cover startups, tech, business, finance, and/or crypto.
• Strong writing ability
• High energy and high integrity, who can work autonomously, manage their time effectively and get things done
• Demonstrated history of being an ‘owner’ 
• Intellectually curious about crypto and the future, with an optimistic view about web3 tech: eager and able to learn new concepts, synthesize ideas from disparate sources, and keep on top of a rapidly-evolving space
• Agility, flexibility and creativity. Be comfortable with change and unknown, as we will experiment, modify, and iterate based on lessons learned

• Nice to have: a rolodex or network of trusted agencies and consultants to partner with

About Variant Fund

Variant is a first-check crypto fund investing in the ownership economy. We are remote-first and welcome candidates distributed in the U.S. We provide competitive salaries and benefits including:

• Premium health/dental coverage
• Generous PTO
• Opportunity to grow alongside a leading firm in a fast-growing market 
• Energetic, kind and mission driven co-workers. 
• This role can be done remotely from the U.S., the team operates on Eastern Time

APPLY

What is the Operations manager role at Variant?

The operations manager will play a critical role in supporting the smooth operation of our firm. In this position, you will be responsible for ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and firm policies, as well as supporting the investment team and managing the deal closing process. This is a dynamic and fast-paced role that requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to multitask effectively.

Responsibilities:

• Continually assess the latest regulatory guidance and the compliance requirements of the firm and work with the CCO to modify the firm’s compliance program as necessary.
• Own the Firms vendor due diligence and vendor management program.
• Work with the CCO and outside counsel on legal and regulatory issues relevant to the firm.
• Perform periodic compliance program control testing.
• Assist with the review of marketing and external media materials from a risk and compliance perspective.
• Assist our legal team and the CCO with regulatory filings, including Form PF and Form ADV.
• Assist the COO in assessing operational risks (e.g., human resources, insurance) to the firm and implementing controls adequate to mitigate.
• Develop and maintain a robust deal closing process, including operational due diligence, tracking, data capture, and document sharing
• Assist the COO and consultants with the maintenance and review of the Firm’s cybersecurity and on-chain environments. 
• Assist in the implementation of ISO 27001 and GDPR compliance.
• Assist with ad-hoc high-priority, high-impact requests and work cross-functionally to meet the team’s deadlines

Requirements:

• The ability to complete projects quickly and efficiently
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• 3-4 years of experience in a similar role, preferably in the venture capital industry
• Extremely strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to multitask effectively and prioritize tasks
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Proficiency with office productivity tools, including Google Suite and MacBook.
• Familiarity with compliance regulations and requirements in the venture capital industry 
• Familiarity with the crypto and its regulatory environment is a plus.

This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the responsibilities and requirements for the position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and qualifications.

About Variant Fund

Variant is a first-check crypto fund investing in the ownership economy. We are remote-first and welcome candidates distributed in the U.S. We provide competitive salaries and benefits including:

• Premium health/dental coverage
• Generous PTO
• Opportunity to grow alongside a leading firm in a fast-growing market 
• Energetic, kind and mission driven co-workers. 
• This role can be done remotely from the U.S., the team operates on Eastern Time

APPLY