Austin Cai

Yale School of Management

“Entrepreneurial, curious, and mission-driven, fueled by big ideas, bold bets and Korean BBQ.”

Hometown: Fremont, California

Fun fact about yourself: With no experience whatsoever, I was given the controls to fly my manager’s small propeller plane for a few minutes over the Swiss Alps. We survived.

Undergraduate School and Degree: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor – Bachelor of Science Informatics and Computer Science

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Scandit – Enterprise Solutions Engineer

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? 53 Stations (VC), Chicago (Hybrid)

Where will you be working after graduation? I’m co-founding a Web3 security protocol startup called Morphic. Backed by angel investors, we are now raising our pre-seed round to accelerate our mission of building the infrastructure that ensures AI, finance, and enterprise applications are truly secure and scalable. As part of the founding team, my focus will be on growth, investor relations, and go-to-market strategy, working alongside an exceptional team to bring cutting-edge cryptographic security to the decentralized world.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

* Co-President, Yale Blockchain Club and SOM Blockchain Club: I led monthly meetings with an incredible cohort of classmates across Yale focused on the blockchain landscape and organized and hosted multiple on campus events focused on blockchain, art, and entrepreneurship bringing together 650+ students from across the Yale campus.

* Co-President, Yale SOM PE/VC Club

* Co-Chair, first and second annual Yale Blockchain Conference: Managed and collaborated with a team of 20+ students to help bring these events to life with over 60 speakers. These included SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda; industry leaders from firms such as a16z, Anchorage Digital, Azuki, CoinFund, Flow Traders, Google, Hivemind Capital, Microsoft, Multicoin Capital, Paradigm, Sei Foundation, Walmart, Whitney Museum, and Zora; and prominent Yale faculty for mainstage keynotes and panel discussions. The inaugural conference aimed to position Yale as a thought leader in the space, while the second seeks to bring together the community to explore and showcase real-world applications of blockchain technology in society.

* Co-Host and Co-creator, 2024 CUBE Summit (Collaborative University Blockchain Ecosystem): I led efforts to bring together, for the first time, 12 distinguished university blockchain clubs—including Harvard, UPenn, Stanford, Cornell, MIT, Princeton, and Oxford—alongside 30+ VCs, founders, industry leaders and sponsors. Our goal was to empower students to explore, learn, and build in the web3 space. The summit featured discussions on blockchain’s future, including a hackathon with a $30K non-dilutive prize, fostering innovation and collaboration at the intersection of academia and industry. It was essential to us the summit was free to all students from all participating universities and my co-host and I were able to leverage our VC and industry relationships to make that possible through the generous support of our industry partners.

* Yale Ventures, Venture Associate: I collaborated with several Yale faculty on projects spanning AI, blockchain, and quantum technologies, conducting market analysis and advising on product development and go-to-market strategies. This experience not only deepened my knowledge but also strengthened my passion for blockchain technology.

* 53 Stations, MBA Investment Fellow: Developed and implemented an AI-driven operational strategy that optimized internal workflows, increased deal sourcing efficiency, and significantly reduced time spent on firmwide deal-related news aggregation.

* Harlem Capital, Winter Intern: Sourced and evaluated over 30 high-potential startups across fintech, SaaS, eCommerce, and web3, leading investment memo preparation that directly influenced investment committee decisions. Provided strategic insights and operational support to drive customer acquisition growth for multiple portfolio companies.

* Host, Yale SOM Winter Social for Prospective Students Beijing: I hosted a gathering at the Yale Center Beijing with five panelists from Alibaba, Tik Tok, BCG and the VC industry), for over 150 prospective SOM students to give them a sense of Yale SOM and what makes the community so unique.

* Dean’s Scholarship recipient, Zhenyi and Charles Liu ’11 MBA Alumni Fund Scholarship

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I’m grateful for the opportunity to co-host the inaugural and second annual Yale Blockchain Conference. It was both incredibly stressful and deeply rewarding—much like my overall MBA experience, where you get out what you put in. I poured my passion for building strong, interdisciplinary communities into these events, collaborating with students from Yale’s MBA, Art, Law, and undergraduate programs to bring them to life. Organizing conferences for 250+ attendees provided me with invaluable experience in managing high-profile relationships with government officials, founders, professors, and investors, while also honing my ability to execute large-scale events.

More importantly, organizing these conferences gave me a front-row seat to the evolving blockchain landscape. Through conversations with industry leaders and firsthand exposure to emerging projects, I developed a deeper understanding of where real innovation is happening—and where critical gaps remain. Curating discussions on blockchain’s intersection with mainstream industries helped refine my own investment thesis, revealing opportunities that are often overlooked. The experience not only broadened my perspective but also sharpened my conviction to play a role in shaping the next wave of blockchain innovation.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? While maintaining a full-time job, I managed to launch my own real estate business —a venture that strived to provide long term housing for low-income families in the Bay Area. Driven by my personal experience as an immigrant, this first-time endeavor in starting a business not only tested my business acumen, but also deepened my understanding of the challenges inherent in entrepreneurship. Although achieving positive financial metrics affirmed my market insight, my proudest moments emerged from forging genuine connections with tenants, where I witnessed firsthand how language barriers and a deep-seated distrust of financial institutions can limit opportunities. In one memorable instance, aided by a tenant’s son who translated for his parents, I was able to alleviate their fears and guide them toward establishing small, passive incomes through savings, an experience that inspired me to volunteer monthly to further educate them on leveraging the financial system to build wealth. This blend of entrepreneurial achievement and meaningful community impact is the accomplishment I cherish most in my career.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose Yale SOM because of its comparatively short history yet immense potential for societal and business impact. I approach opportunities with a founder’s mindset, and I knew that Yale’s emphasis on an interdisciplinary approach would allow me to thrive, build, and fill gaps to further empower the student community. The school’s collaborative environment and mission-driven ethos provided the perfect setting to not only deepen my business acumen, but also create meaningful initiatives that bridge technology, policy, and entrepreneurship.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite course as an MBA was Ted Snyder’s Economic Analysis of High-Tech Industries. This course provided a global perspective on high-tech industries, exploring critical topics such as AI, supply chains, commerce, and company valuations. A unique aspect of the class was its participation from students worldwide through the Global Network for Advanced Management, leading to rich, authentic discussions on global market dynamics. As an investor and founder, this course was invaluable in helping me develop a holistic, macro-level framework for evaluating deals in emerging technologies.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? My favorite MBA tradition at Yale SOM is Voices. I deeply admire my classmates who take the time and effort to be vulnerable in front of the audience, sharing personal stories that often reveal sides of them we don’t normally see in day-to-day interactions. This tradition fosters deeper connections and a strong sense of community, reflecting SOM’s culture of openness, empathy, and support. Whether it’s someone’s journey to SOM, their experience with prejudice, or overcoming a difficult life event, Voices creates a space where authenticity is celebrated and bonds are strengthened.

What is the biggest myth about your school? One myth is that Yale SOM is a strong feeder for consulting and investment banking, but lacks a solid pipeline for Private Equity and Venture Capital. While it’s true that PE/VC recruiting isn’t as structured as at some peer schools, this perception overlooks the real momentum building within the space.

Over the past year, our SOM PE/VC Club made deliberate strides to strengthen the PE/VC ecosystem. Our club introduced a structured curriculum, featuring investor-led speaker series and technical workshops designed to demystify the industry and equip students with the skills needed to break in. Additionally, my Co-President, Ioana Solomon, spearheaded our PE/VC Symposium, an event that convened 200+ students and industry professionals, creating meaningful connections and opportunities.

Rather than seeing gaps as limitations, I view them as opportunities for innovation and leadership. The growing PE/VC community at SOM is a testament to what’s possible when passionate individuals take the initiative to drive change.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? Yale’s campus is incredibly walkable, and its stunning architecture never fails to captivate my friends when they visit. After nearly two years here, I’ve sometimes fallen into the routine of my daily walk from home to SOM, unintentionally taking the beauty around me for granted. With my time here winding down, I’ve made a conscious effort to explore more—taking at least one leisurely walk each week and attending various campus events to take me away from my normal path. And as a big fan of Thai food, I’d crown the food truck “Roodle” as the best value in town. I go there once a week.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? In my Principles of Entrepreneurship course, our professor piloted an AI-powered monitoring system that captured and analyzed our group discussions, providing a summarized breakdown at the end. I found this to be an innovative way of integrating AI into the classroom, demonstrating its potential to enhance learning and engagement. This experience reinforced my belief that AI will play an increasingly significant role in both education and business, streamlining processes and improving knowledge retention. I welcome these advancements, as they not only make learning more efficient but also help students better understand the real-world impact of emerging technologies.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Adam Tang is not only a good friend, but also someone I admire for his passion for bringing people together. As the Red Cohort Representative, he has gone above-and-beyond to foster a sense of community at SOM—whether by organizing Red Cohort Supper Clubs, hosting potluck dinners that bring together affinity groups, or planning international trips. I’ve seen firsthand how effortlessly he connects people from different backgrounds, creating spaces where genuine relationships can form. I appreciate his ability to build an environment where people feel comfortable being vulnerable, fostering trust and meaningful connections. In a fast-paced and often high-pressure MBA program, individuals like him make a real difference in shaping a culture of openness and support. His natural ability to unite others embody the best of SOM’s community, and I believe that people like him are what make this experience so transformative.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? The top two items on my professional bucket list are building a successful business—through which I hope to form lifelong friends, business partners and mentors. I also want to establish a foundation dedicated to addressing pressing societal issues that often go overlooked, such as democratizing access and resources for low-income children.

What made Austin such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

Austin Cai was a top performer in my Entrepreneurship in the Art Market class at Yale SOM in Fall 2024, demonstrating both academic excellence and outstanding leadership. He played a key role in organizing the symposium with Marc Glimcher, one of the world’s leading art gallerists. From securing the venue to coordinating with the press, Yale clubs, and marketing efforts, Austin took ownership of every detail, ensuring the event’s success. He also organized a talk with me and the Yale SOM Art Clubs, further contributing to the school’s engagement with the art market.

Beyond his achievements, Austin stands out for his motivation, curiosity, and drive. As Co-President of the Yale Blockchain Club and the SOM Blockchain Club, he has been at the forefront of innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration. He is hardworking, resourceful, and respectful—someone who pushes himself and those around him to think bigger. I have no doubt he has a bright future ahead, and I’m proud to have had him as my student.”

Magnus Resch
Lecturer in Management, Yale School of Management

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