Sophia Zhao

Sophia Zhao is a Partner at Alumni Ventures, where she focuses on the AI Fund, Blockchain Fund, and Women's Fund. Within her team, she supports AI data and applications deals alongside her blockchain and Web3 mandate. She has been in this role since July 2024, based in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Sophia's direct involvement in digital assets dates to 2018, when she began working across crypto-native firms including Galaxy Digital, Huobi US, and Crypto.com. In those roles, she engaged with startups and institutional clients on capital raising and trading across the Americas, EU, and Asia regions. She has also served as a mentor and judge at Yale's Tsai City for Innovation, Berkeley's Blockchain Xcelerator, Techstars, and Layer 1 protocol communities including Ethereum, Algorand, and Solana. She currently mentors at Girls Into VC and is a member of Real Mamas of Crypto and Women We Admire. She is also affiliated with the Blockchain Builders Fund, a position that began in June 2023. Prior to her venture career, her earlier professional background included capital advisory, corporate development, and operational work with CXOs and founders across cloud computing, mining and minerals, consumer goods, and Web3. Her first role after university was at TD Commercial Bank, where she lent capital to businesses. She holds a BBA from Simon Fraser University, an MBA from the University of British Columbia, and an MAM from the Yale School of Management.