Ria spent her childhood in India, Switzerland, Holland, Dallas, Nebraska (lol), and New Jersey. She recently passed the “ten years in New York” milestone and is thus a hard official New Yorker. Growing up, she would sneak into her parents closet and try on her dad’s suits to practice dressing like a business woman. This early curiosity about business led her to attend New York University’s Stern School of Business where she pursued and graduated with a degree in Finance (she dropped her French minor when she realized Business French was harder than any class in her Finance curriculum). Upon graduating, Ria started her career as an equity research analyst on the Fintech and Payments team at Credit Suisse, where she combined her love for writing with her excitement about analyzing companies and investing. After becoming disillusioned with the antiquated and rent seeking global payments and settlement systems, Ria chose the red pill and dove head first into crypto. Today, she invests in early stage companies and projects at Castle Island Ventures. Please don’t hate on her for making 30u30 - in fact, if you know anyone who can help her renounce the title, her DMs are open. After many board meetings jamming on Kelly’s Series B, Ria joined forces with Kelly to address the absence of a community and platform that brings together hot and interesting intellectuals in a way that rewards being thoughtful and respectful.

Facts about Ria: Mediocre DJ and generative artist. Caroline Polachek, The Strokes and Yelle Groupie. Holy texts include: 1Q84 by Murakami, The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand and Dune by Frank Herbert. Favorite past times include: weekly strolls in the Herman Miller flagship store, hot yoga and lifting, LARPing as a functional medicine expert, Chef’s Table, Entourage and A24 films.