IST Startup Week 2016 – Arianna Simpson, Tech Investment & Andrew Pitz, Transamerica Ventures

Arianna has spent her career to date working in tech, first co-founding an enterprise software startup in the loyalty program space, and later leading sales and partner relations at Shoptiques, a Y Combinator-backed e-commerce startup. Arianna then worked at Facebook in Global Marketing Solutions before she decided to pursue her interest in bitcoin full-time, and joined BitGo as the third employee.

Arianna frequently speaks and writes about the financial, political, and technological implications of Bitcoin and the underlying protocol. While at Penn State, she was a Schreyer Honors College scholar, and holds a dual BA with highest honors. Arianna is also an advisor to the Penn State University Bitcoin Club.

Andrew Pitz is an Associate at Transamerica Ventures, the corporate VC arm of Transamerica and Aegon, two large insurance and asset management firms. At Transamerica Ventures, he focuses on sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities, conducting due diligence, developing and growing portfolio companies and supporting all other fund activities. Andrew recently led Transamerica’s investments in PolicyGenius, a NYC-based digital insurance broker that is revolutionizing the way people buy insurance online, and Digital Currency Group, the leading holding company for digital currency and blockchain assets. Prior to joining Transamerica Ventures, Andrew worked at KBJ Capital, an early-stage technology investment fund.Andrew graduated from Penn State University in 2009 where he studied communications, marketing and entrepreneurship.

While at Penn State, Andrew was a member of the Nittany Lions football team.

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