Jesse Proudman is a technology entrepreneur and digital asset investment executive best known for co-founding Strix Leviathan, a Seattle-based crypto-focused investment management company that applied quantitative research, proprietary technology and systematic trading approaches to digital asset markets. His broader background spans cloud computing infrastructure, enterprise technology and serial entrepreneurship, including founding Blue Box (acquired by IBM in 2015) and co-founding Makara, a consumer crypto investing platform acquired by Betterment in 2022. Strix Leviathan's funds were acquired by Parataxis Capital Management in February 2025. As of August 2026, Proudman serves as President and CTO of Venice.ai, an AI technology company he co-founded in 2024. His career illustrates a progression from cloud infrastructure entrepreneurship into digital asset investment management and now applied artificial intelligence, with crypto remaining a significant chapter defined by building professional, technology-driven approaches to digital asset markets rather than creating blockchain protocols.
About Jesse Proudman
Projects Founded
- Blue Box (acquired by IBM, 2015)
- Strix Leviathan (acquired by Parataxis Capital, 2025)
- Makara (acquired by Betterment, 2022)
- Venice.ai
Career Timeline
Key Contributions
Technology Entrepreneurship
Built and led technology businesses across cloud infrastructure, digital assets and AI, with three successful exits.
Strix Leviathan
Co-founded a professional digital asset investment management company applying quantitative and systematic approaches to crypto markets.
Quantitative Crypto Investing
Helped develop systematic approaches to trading and managing digital asset portfolios using proprietary technology and data analysis.
Trading Infrastructure
Worked at the intersection of proprietary technology, market data and multi-exchange digital asset execution.
Consumer Crypto Investing
Co-founded Makara to make crypto exposure accessible to retail investors through thematic investment baskets.
Sources & References
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesseproudman
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/strixleviathan
- https://strixleviathan.com/
- https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/crypto-hedge-fund-firm-parataxis-buys-strix-leviathan-funds
- https://www.geekwire.com/2025/seattle-fintech-startup-strix-leviathan-acquired-by-crypto-hedge-fund-parataxis/
- https://www.geekwire.com/2022/betterment-gets-into-crypto-with-acquisition-of-seattle-startup-makara/
- https://finovate.com/betterment-embraces-the-cryptocurrency-revolution-with-makara-acquisition/
- https://www.crunchbase.com/person/jesse-proudman
- https://x.com/jesseproudman
- https://lex.substack.com/p/podcast-building-digital-assets-into
- https://tracxn.com/d/companies/strixleviathan/__siQC0snUQRcwwAZYzcrse-SISABbiTsseqS597LV4DU
- https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/226765-09
- https://app.dealroom.co/news/feed/strix-leviathan-acquired-by-parataxis
- https://www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-seattle-presents-startup-grind-seattle-host-jesse-proudman-ceo-founder-strix-leviathan/





































