Jeff Chang
The Disruptor
Contrarian and drawn to the edge; challenges the settled answer.
Jeff Chang earns The Disruptor honestly, through four years of zero income spent proving banks and insurers were unnecessary intermediaries in defined outcome investing. He did not iterate on existing ETF structures at Vest. He rebuilt the delivery mechanism entirely, wrapping options-based downside protection inside a regulated fund vehicle no incumbent had cleared through regulatory terrain. His Silicon Valley meets Wall Street framing is operational, not cosmetic, and the willingness behind it is genuine.
“We went four years with no income. Me and my co-founder Karan — we didn't get paid for four plus years to found this company. That's how much you have to believe in something.”
“All we did was cut the bank and insurance company out. Instead of having the banker insurance company hedge themselves with options and issue you a policy, we just said, why not put the hedge in a fund.”
“Our identity today is still Silicon Valley meets Wall Street. In my mind, if someone in Silicon Valley came into our business, they could end up in jail — and if Wall Street ends up in Silicon Valley, you'll run over for sure.”
Masters in Business: “Financial Products for Hedging with Vest Co-Founder Jeff Chang”
LISTEN AT THE SOURCE ↗THE RECORD IS CHECKABLE