News Summary

• Arianna Simpson plowed her savings into Bitcoin when she was 22 years old.
• Instead of sticking it out in the early crypto startup trenches, Simpson moved into venture.
• Simpson came on right at the start of the boom years, which included a16z crypto’s landmark $2.2 billion third fund in 2021 and $4.5 billion fourth fund in 2022.
• She made a name for herself investing early in companies like Blackbird, the dining rewards startup created by Resy cofounder Ben Leventhal.