Key Takeaways
- David Minarsch, CEO and Co-founder of Valory studied Mathematics and Economics at UCL and Cambridge.
- Minarsch held leadership roles at UCL, including President of the ADM Mathematics Society, organizing events that connected students with industry professionals.
- Minarsch co-founded Panopy, a tech company focused on understanding behavior, which increased his interest in using technology to improve decision-making.
Who Is David Minarsch?
David Minarsch is the CEO and Co-founder of Valory, a company dedicated to research and development in multi-agent systems (MAS) and distributed ledger technology (DLT). David Minarsch earned a Bachelor’s in Mathematics with Economics from University College London (UCL), where he actively engaged in finance-related societies. He then pursued an MPhil and a PhD in Economics at the University of Cambridge, focusing on microeconomic issues in social and economic networks, including intermediation and conflict resolution.
Early Career and Internships
David Minarsch started his career with internships and part-time jobs where he learned about market research, data analysis, and business strategy. In 2009 and 2010, he worked at YouDo Holding AG, where he helped study market trends and supported planning decisions. These roles gave him a strong foundation in business analysis, setting him up for future work in economics and technology.
Leadership and Activities at UCL
From 2010 to 2012, Minarsch took on leadership roles at UCL FINDS and was President of the ADM Mathematics Society. He planned workshops, conferences, and networking events to connect students with industry experts. His efforts helped grow these groups and gave students valuable chances to learn about economics and finance.
Business Consulting and Startups
In 2011, Minarsch joined the UCL HELO Consultancy Project, where he helped create a business plan for an online tutoring startup. He worked on financial planning market research and supported the CEO in getting early funding. This experience gave him a better understanding of business strategy and the economic challenges faced by startups.
Work in Data Science and Fintech
After earning his PhD, Minarsch worked as a Data Scientist at Yoyo Wallet in early 2017. He used machine learning to sort transaction data, helping the platform better understand customer buying habits. This job introduced him to the mix of AI and financial technology, starting his interest in decentralized finance.
Fetch.ai and Blockchain Research
From August 2019 to January 2021, Minarsch was the Lead Economist at Fetch.ai, working on research, software development, and team management. He helped design rules for Fetch.ai’s smart ledger and built a system for autonomous agents. This role let him explore decentralized economic models, connecting with his background in game theory and networks.
Co-Founding Panopy
In 2018, Minarsch co-founded Panopy, a tech company focused on behavioral analytics. As CEO, he led product development and helped design and build Panopy’s web app. This experience strengthened his interest in using technology to improve organizational decision-making and efficiency.
Transition to Blockchain
Minarsch’s interest in blockchain grew from his work in multi-agent systems, software development, and machine learning. As he learned more, he saw how blockchain could connect his skills, especially in decentralized decision-making and economics. This led him to focus on blockchain networks, digital ledgers, and crypto-based governance, combining his technical and economic knowledge in new ways.
Co-Founding Valory
Minarsch’s knowledge of decentralized networks and multi-agent systems led him to co-found Valory, where he is now CEO. Valory works on research and builds products that combine multi-agent systems (MAS) with blockchain technology. The company is best known for Autonolas, a system that lets automated services run on blockchain networks. Under Minarsch’s leadership, Valory has created new tools that blend AI automation with decentralized decision-making, helping shape the future of blockchain applications.
Building Autonomous Systems
In an episode of the Beacon Podcast (Web3 Unlocked), David Minarsch discusses autonomy and how it shapes how people and machines work together. He shares his journey into crypto and AI, including his time at Fetch.ai and starting Valory and OLAS. The discussion covers the growth of autonomous agents, how they are used, and the challenges in Web3 AI. Minarsch also points out the importance of purpose-driven teams and OLAS’s open-source design, which helps decentralized agents work together smoothly.
Vision for AI and Blockchain
Minarsch sees a future where AI and blockchain combine to create fully independent digital agents. At Valory and Autonolas, he focuses on making decentralized networks more intelligent, more efficient, and able to grow. By blending AI automation with decentralized decision-making, he is helping to develop the next stage of blockchain systems.
Final Thoughts
David Minarsch’s journey from economics and data science to blockchain and AI shows his intense focus on decentralized systems and decision-making. As the CEO of Valory, he works on projects like Autonolas to improve how automated systems run on blockchain networks.
With his background in economics, leadership, and technology, Minarsch is helping build a future where AI and blockchain work together to create more intelligent and efficient digital systems.
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