#16 - Sina Kian, VP of Strategy at Aleo: A16Z backed startup, Zero-Knowledge Proofs, and why "find your passion" is the wrong advice.

Sina Kian (@SinaKian1) is Vice President of Strategy at Aleo, a company that is building a decentralized blockchain with significantly enhanced data security and privacy capabilities. He is also an Adjunct Professor at NYU Law School, and a Term Member at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Sina received his BA in History at the University of Virginia, and his JD from Stanford Law School. After law school, Sina clerked for Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., on the Supreme Court. Sina practiced law at WilmerHale, later transitioning to an investing role, working as a Vice President at Blackstone, and then to Kennedy Lewis.

Show highlights:

- His current role at Aleo (aleo.org)

- What is Aleo? What problem does this a16z backed startup solve?

- Clerking for Justice Roberts on the Supreme Court

- Why transition out of law?

- Zero-Knowledge Proofs 

- Targeting Developers

- Finding the perfect mentor

& much more. Sina is brilliant and this interview is packed with interesting takeaways.