Vincent’s career didn’t start in AI or biotech.
After reading Nick Bostrom’s “Superintelligence” a decade ago, he went into robotics, ML forecasting, and decentralized systems as he was attending a German university focused on project-based learning.
At just 18, he applied to Y Combinator and got an interview but didn’t get in. Instead of stopping, he joined startups before discovering his true passion: DeSci & AI infrastructure.
In 2021, Vincent co-founded VitaDAO, one of the first and most successful DAOs for funding scientific research. VitaDAO proved that scientific funding doesn’t have to be controlled by institutions.
Vincent later launched Beta.org, a platform for crowdfunding biotech and deep tech research, and funded 60+ students with grants ranging from $100 to $5,000.
Prime Intellect: Fixing AI’s Compute Bottleneck
After funding biotech research, Vincent saw another huge problem: AI compute was too expensive and inaccessible for startups, students, and independent researchers. So he co-founded Prime Intellect, a decentralized AI compute platform making it easier for innovators to access affordable and scalable computing power.
Compute isn’t just about GPUs. It really is about accessibility and decentralization.
Vincent believes that AI will become increasingly decentralized. This will lead to “permissionless AI agents” to operate without centralized control.
While quantum computing remains 5-10 years away from real-world impact, he sees Web3 as an underrated solution for funding and governing AI development. However, one of the biggest challenges in decentralized AI is verification, the need for trust and security in distributed systems. To solve this, his team developed TopLock, a system designed to secure decentralized compute networks and increase reliability in AI infrastructure.
For anyone (students, researchers) looking to break into AI or decentralized tech, Vincent’s advice is: master the fundamentals in CS, math, physics, and AI tools.
Instead of waiting for permission, start building projects because hands-on experience is the best teacher.
Incorporate AI into your daily workflow as experimentation is the fastest way to stay ahead in the field. Finally, networking is key. Cold emails and DMs can open unexpected opportunities with industry leaders.
Final Takeaway
From biotech to AI compute, Vincent truly believes the best opportunities aren’t inside traditional institutions.
DeSci and AI compute are changing technology at a scale we’ve never seen before. If you’re a founder or student looking to build, now is the time.
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