# Jalak Jobanputra

> Jalak Jobanputra is the founder and managing partner of Future\Perfect Ventures, one of the world's first VC funds dedicated to blockchain technology, launched in 2014. Born in Nairobi, Kenya to parents of Indian descent and raised in rural New Jersey, she brings a rare global lens to venture investing - from backing Bitcoin infrastructure at seed stage (Blockchain.com, Blockstream) to building microfinance programs in Tanzania. A Wharton and Kellogg alumna, she started investing in Bitcoin in 2013 before it was remotely fashionable, and has since built a portfolio of 50+ companies at the intersection of decentralized technology, AI, and financial inclusion. Her blog 'The Barefoot VC' has run since 2009 and was named a top 10 investor blog by Business Insider.

- **Role:** Founder and Managing Partner at Future\Perfect Ventures
- **Organizations:** Future\Perfect Ventures, The Collective Future, NYCSeed (founder), FinTech Innovation Lab (co-founder)
- **From:** Nairobi, Kenya
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.S. in Economics (Finance concentration), magna cum laude, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, B.A. in Communications (dual degree), Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania, MBA (Marketing & Entrepreneurship), Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
- **Known for:** Founded Future\Perfect Ventures in 2014 - one of the world's first institutional VC funds dedicated to blockchain, Seed investor in Blockchain.com, now one of the largest crypto platforms globally, Seed investor in Blockstream, foundational Bitcoin infrastructure company

## Career timeline

- **1995** — Left investment banking in London at 23 to join early internet startup scene in New York after attending Netscape IPO conference
- **1997** — Launched and managed product development for Horsesmouth, an early online financial information startup in NYC's Silicon Alley
- **1999** — After Kellogg MBA, spent four months in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania setting up microfinance programs for women entrepreneurs
- **1999-2003** — Investor at Intel Capital (Silicon Valley), focused on enterprise software and internet startups - exits include Yodlee, Financial Engines, R Systems IPOs
- **2005-2010** — Senior Vice President at New York City Investment Fund (NYCIF), spearheaded formation of NYCSeed in 2008 and co-founded FinTech Innovation Lab
- **2010-2014** — Director of Emerging Market Mobile Investments at Omidyar Network (Pierre Omidyar's impact fund), focused on mobile payments across emerging markets
- **2012** — Managing Director at RTP Ventures
- **2013** — Attended Bitcoin conference; asked 'what would a system look like if we could build it from scratch?' - crystallized blockchain investment thesis
- **2014** — Founded Future\Perfect Ventures, one of the world's first institutional VC funds dedicated to blockchain technology
- **2018** — Founded The Collective Future to advance diversity and inclusion in blockchain/Web3; created Blockchain Inclusive and Diversity (BID) Pledge
- **2024** — Speaker at Milken Institute Global Conference 2024
- **2025** — Spoke at Milken Institute Global Conference 2025 on panel 'Money, Access, and Scale: The Evolution of Financial Technology'; speaking at DigiAssets US 2025 and SALT London 2025

## Achievements

- Founded Future\Perfect Ventures in 2014 - one of the world's first institutional VC funds dedicated to blockchain
- Seed investor in Blockchain.com, now one of the largest crypto platforms globally
- Seed investor in Blockstream, foundational Bitcoin infrastructure company
- Built portfolio of 50+ companies across blockchain, AI, and IoT
- Microsoft VC Trailblazer Award (2018) for early and bold blockchain investments
- Institutional Investor's Most Powerful Fintech Dealmakers (2016-2018)
- 100 Most Influential Fintech Leaders (2016, 2017)
- Top 5 Investor Powering the Blockchain Boom (2017)
- Ranked #33-37 on Institutional Investor's Fintech Finance 40
- Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business - Asian American Development Center (2010)
- Co-founded NYCSeed in 2008, filling critical gap in NYC early-stage startup ecosystem
- Co-founded FinTech Innovation Lab (replicated in London and Hong Kong)
- Founded The Collective Future (2018) and created Blockchain Inclusive and Diversity Pledge
- Blog 'The Barefoot VC' named top 10 investor blog by Business Insider

## Latest updates

- **2025-05** — Spoke at Milken Institute Global Conference 2025 on panel 'Money, Access, and Scale: The Evolution of Financial Technology'
- **2025-04** — Speaking at DigiAssets US 2025 amid Bitcoin all-time highs and positive global regulatory environment
- **2025-04** — Speaking at SALT London 2025 on AI in infrastructure and investment
- **2025-01** — Active on X/Twitter posting on Bitcoin and digital era transitions
- **2024-04** — Featured speaker at Milken Institute Global Conference 2024

## Links

- Website: http://thebarefootvc.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jalak
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/jalak

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/jalak-jobanputra
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-04-29