Renee DiResta

I’ve worked for the government, in quantitative finance, and most recently, in VC. While the industries & missions have varied, the common thread is a love of aggregating incomplete information, analyzing it, then generating/executing a plan of action. As a trader, I valued derivative instruments (ie ETFs) when many underlying components weren’t trading. That process had to happen in seconds. In seed-stage VC, I identify market drivers and technological or societal trends, then use them to form investment opinions about very young companies. It’s slower, but in some ways more complex –less quantitative data, a longer feedback loop. Art + science.

As the Principal at OATV, I work closely with portfolio companies, meet entrepreneurs, evaluate investments, and study industries. I’ve been fortunate to see everything and support all deals. My work for portfolio companies includes analysis of growth strategies, financial modeling, product advising, and developing strategic & biz dev partnerships. I also organize conferences.

Prior to OATV, I spent 7 yrs at Jane Street Capital, a prop trading firm. I started as a middle-office clerk, building tools for traders. I fell in love with the challenge and excitement of arbitrage trading, worked hard to learn the necessary skills, and became a trader myself. My experience is primarily in emerging markets, which have added complexity due to sudden government interventions, regional instability, & variable regulatory environments. I’m fascinated by markets; specifically, by the way that new information is processed and reflected almost instantly.

When I’m not working, I make things. I always have side projects…sometimes data research (using Google Autocomplete data), sometimes crafts. I blog about my projects at blog.noupsi.de. I’ve played piano for 28 yrs, danced for 12. Lately I’ve been into high altitude hiking; this year, I climbed Kilimanjaro, Shasta, & trekked 70mi to Everest Base Camp.

I really love being busy.