variant-fund
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Variant Bet on Ownership. Now It Wants to Fund Autonomy.
The New York venture firm made its name arguing that internet users should become owners. Its new $222 million fund stretches that idea into a broader test: does the technology give people more agency, or merely automate them?
Li Jin
Li Jin is a venture capitalist, writer, and creator who coined the term 'passion economy' and spent years investing in platforms that help individuals turn their passions into livelihoods. She served as a Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), then founded Atelier Ventures, and later co-founded Variant Fund - raising over $450M to back web3 and ownership-driven platforms. An active creator herself, she writes 'Li's Newsletter' on Substack with hundreds of thousands of subscribers and co-hosted the Means of Creation podcast. In August 2024, she transitioned from General Partner to Advisor at Variant to pursue interests in education, innovation, and creative projects.