The Pioneers
Without innovation, we remain stuck in the past. ZIG invests in the companies bringing humanity into the future.
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3474,8 km
16,7 km/h
27 Day
Meet our Pioneers
Patri Friedman
Expedition Leader
Patri Friedman received a BS in math from Harvey Mudd College and an MS in computer science from Stanford University. While in school he experimented with technology startups, ran a small consulting business, and co-founded two intentional communities. In 2008, he left Google and founded The Seasteading Institute with funding from PayPal founder Peter Thiel.
Patri has deep interest in entrepreneurship and venture capital, and made his first angel investment in 2001. He co-founded Zarco Investment Group with Dr. Germano in 2011, and is currently the sole General Partner at Pronomos Capital, the world’s first charter city investment fund. He moved to Austin, Texas in 2023 after 29 years in California, and can be reached as patri at zigfund dot com.
João Germano
Expedition Leader
Daniel Kleinmann
Pioneer
In addition to ZIG, Daniel is a Partner and co-founder of Balerion Space Ventures, a VC fund focused on the new space economy. Prior to joining Balerion, he was a founding principal at Explorer 1 Fund, LLP. He began his career managing a single family office out of Dallas, TX. From 2018 – 2021, Daniel was responsible for building out a direct early stage venture capital strategy. Daniel holds an MBA from Tel Aviv University and New York University and an Honors in Business Administration from Western University.