Aaron Sokasian

Dr. Aaron Sokasian is a unique investor who bridges the worlds of astrophysics, quantitative finance, and technology entrepreneurship. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Astronomy (cum laude) from Cornell University (1994-1998) before pursuing his Ph.D. in Astrophysics at Harvard University, where his doctoral thesis focused on "Radiative Transfer In The Early Universe." His transition from theoretical astrophysics to computational finance demonstrates his ability to apply complex mathematical and computational frameworks to real-world financial problems.

Since 2001, Dr. Sokasian has been actively involved in developing computer-driven trading models for various asset classes. His entrepreneurial journey began as Co-Founder and CEO of Financial Labs, where he led a team that ran algorithmic trading models in Foreign Exchange markets. This company was acquired by Bank of America, after which he assumed the role of Head of Quantitative Strategies for FX and later Interest Rates at the bank from 2005 to 2007, contributing to the development of algorithmic trading and risk management systems.

In 2007, Dr. Sokasian co-founded Tachyon Capital Management, LLC, an investment firm that grew to manage $800 million in Regulatory Assets Under Management (RAUM) with 4 employees by 2017. He led this firm for a decade before transitioning to his next venture. In 2017, he founded Crypto-Systems, LLC, a proprietary trading firm dedicated to offering liquidity services to institutional clients within the digital asset sector. This company was acquired by DriveWealth in 2022, leading to Dr. Sokasian joining DriveWealth's leadership team and being appointed as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) on August 1, 2023.

Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Sokasian maintains diverse intellectual interests, having earned a Certificate in Horticulture from the New York Botanical Garden. He continues to engage with astronomy and horticulture as personal pursuits while maintaining active roles in both technology leadership and angel investing. As an active investor in new startups, he contributes both his deep technical knowledge and capital to emerging ventures, particularly in fintech, quantitative trading, and technology sectors.

Dr. Sokasian's investment philosophy is shaped by his extensive experience building and scaling technology-driven financial companies. His focus centers on early-stage startups that leverage computational approaches, algorithmic systems, and innovative technology to solve complex problems in finance and adjacent sectors. Given his background in quantitative strategies and digital assets, he shows particular interest in fintech innovations, cryptocurrency and blockchain applications, algorithmic trading platforms, and technology infrastructure for financial markets.

As an angel investor operating through his personal investment vehicle, Dr. Sokasian brings significant value beyond capital. His expertise spans quantitative finance, software architecture, scalable technology systems, regulatory navigation in financial services, and successful exits through acquisitions. He looks for founders who combine technical depth with business acumen, particularly those building in areas where his experience in algorithmic systems and financial technology can provide meaningful guidance.

His investment approach emphasizes seed-stage opportunities where he can be an active contributor to technical strategy and product development. Having successfully founded companies that achieved acquisitions by major financial institutions (Bank of America, DriveWealth), he understands the path from startup to exit and can help portfolio companies navigate critical growth stages. His network spans institutional finance, fintech platforms, and digital asset markets, providing valuable connectivity for early-stage companies.