70 · Scorpions on Weekends

I really love entomology. I want to see what connections and insights I can derive from it into trading, later on. There is something artistic about the operations of arachnids.

Why can't I just explore the subjects I genuinely find interesting — astronomy, physics, mathematics — and use them to model markets? I've never heard of an ex-SpaceX entomologist who leveraged six months of arachnid research in Arizona into modelling the topological persistent homology that manifests in quantum mechanics. When we see these types of speculations, it's important to chase them. I'm good at maths and physics — internships at NASA and SpaceX would be dope. Benjamin Franklin's story inspires me: you can be a multifaceted person studying all kinds of subjects, investigating new fields, expanding the territory of intellect. Do that. Really. Go deep into quantum mechanics, topological finance, astronomic manifestations of the laws of physics.

Never once across all the hours of entrepreneurs' lectures have I heard: think like an entomologist. What if there's some truth in it? Nature has such astounding efficiencies and operational systems — why not power data centres with crickets and grasshoppers? It is the nature of entomology to propagate. They have far better energy efficiency for their mass; they sit near the bottom of the food chain, so their conversion rate from input energy to output is far better than larger animals'. In the past we used large animals — horses, oxen; I think we need to aim lower. Just like HFT: small wins at massive scale. Tiny edge times huge volume produces massive P&L — so tiny conversions of their biology into kinetic energy, times the scale of a data centre. They're cold-blooded — no energy wasted heating the body, low dissipation, small surface area per unit — and they eat agricultural waste humans can't digest: huge supply, zero to negative demand; food waste becomes the substrate for their reproduction. Biochemical energy harvesting via insects and arachnids. Near-zero moral-outrage risk; a completely unexplored market — entomology only ever makes the news as pest control, which shows the disequilibrium between supply and demand of the field itself. How we used insects to run a Stirling engine — build the smallest prototype and take it to YC. It will genuinely be so interesting. You love entomology; read more of it in Winnipeg and conduct research at Queensland or Arizona. Connect the dots toward mass production at harvest scale. There has to be research to do here.

Applied entomology. Something to definitely lean into.

I guess if there are subjects that really interest you, the gathering, consumption and analysis of knowledge becomes far easier — more fun and engaging as the layers reveal themselves. For me: astronomy, quantum mechanics, basketball, coffee, mathematics, the entomology of arachnids. Such a wild mix, but those are the things I was pulled into. I'm also a touch into streetwear — no idea how that plays out. We'll see how the experiences and knowledge coalesce. Honestly, it's going to be a comedy and a beauty when I sell the quant firm or fintech startup after a decade, travel for a year or two, then go to the University of Arizona to become an entomologist while owning a café in Switzerland. Those random experiences eventually become your edge. You win competition via authenticity. Be true to your means of deviation.

I want to be different. That's the edge people keep talking about, and ironically personal edge is manifested by amplifying originality. Nobody else is interested in quantum physics, arachnids, quant trading and cybersecurity simultaneously, trying to coalesce them into one product.

The world is a game of pendulums, and there are certain paths you simply leap onto, where you can sort the waves you want. It takes risk, stress and pain tolerance to make the leap — usually a culmination of hard work on things that are different, new, novel, uncertain and risky.