Ed Roman is a former engineer and open-source developer who authored a best-selling book on software development and founded companies including HackHands and Ghostfire Games before joining Hack VC. He created hack.summit(), a large-scale virtual developer and blockchain conference that built him a global community of engineers, giving him unusually deep grassroots access to developer talent compared to most investors.

• Deep interest in applied artificial intelligence across B2B verticals, specifically seeking startups that automate complex workflows or enhance human-computer interaction. He highlighted his excitement for Tavus creating digital twins for real-time interaction and praised Draftwise for using AI to disrupt legal contract drafting.
• Heavy focus on decentralized infrastructure and Web3 technology, particularly projects that improve security or developer productivity. He actively promoted his firm's investment in MovementLabs for bringing the Move language to Ethereum and celebrated Initia for helping developers build appchains without worrying about underlying infrastructure.
• Prioritizes high-energy founders who demonstrate relentless execution and hustle early on. He specifically noted that he backed the Deel team because their work ethic was palpable during their seed round and described the CEO of Runway as a beast when discussing their new financial product launch.
• Enthusiasm for fintech innovation that transforms how businesses manage money and operations. He frequently shared updates on Slope, noting their focus on meeting real customer needs while working with major partners like Amazon, and congratulated Brex on their massive acquisition by Capital One.
• Fascination with the convergence of emerging technologies, often participating in events that bridge the gap between different sectors. He promoted his speaking engagements at summits specifically dedicated to the fusion of AI and Web3, as well as events covering the intersection of robotics, AI, and crypto.