Long Biography
The Work Behind Constitutional Mathematics
From a rural Washington upbringing to managing democratically governed infrastructure at global scale.
2006
Founded YourSports — a platform for connecting sports networks and moving money through them
2014
Marc Andreessen recognized McCoy on his "50 Unknown Rockstars in Tech" list for thinking in networks, payments, and sports media
2017
Formalized constitutional mathematics — the first mathematical framework for democratic AI governance
2020
STORE Research Inc. begins managing real economic decisions: $30M, 126 governors, 30 countries, zero violations
In 2017, Chris McCoy formalized something nobody had connected: Alexander Hamilton's 1787 constitutional design and Leslie Lamport's 1982 Byzantine Fault Tolerance mathematics are independent solutions to the same problem, distributed agreement under adversarial conditions. Same threshold. 195 years apart. Neither knew about the other. The Founders encoded distributed systems mathematics into the Constitution before computer science existed.
The result: constitutional mathematics, the first mathematical framework for democratic AI governance.
The work started long before 2017. In 2006, McCoy founded YourSports, a platform for connecting sports networks and moving money through them. Solving that coordination problem led him to cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency led him to the consensus mathematics. In 2014, Marc Andreessen recognized McCoy on his "50 Unknown Rockstars in Tech" list for thinking in networks, payments, and sports media. By 2017 that research became STORE Research Inc.
Since 2020, that system has managed $30 million in real economic decisions across 126 governors in 30 countries. Zero constitutional violations.
Trusted America is McCoy's comprehensive policy framework applying constitutional mathematics to American competitiveness: GDP growth exceeding debt growth, surplus distributed through mathematical allocation. The partner everyone wants, not the bully everyone fears. When America wins, you get paid.
Through McCoy Ventures, he invests in the inputs that drive computing and AI: bandwidth, chips, energy, crypto, metals, AI itself, and in technologies that distribute opportunity rather than concentrate power. Portfolio includes Lightcell Energy, Tangible Robotics, Zestworld, Encore, foundational blockchain projects including STORE, Ethereum, and Bitcoin, Jomboy, and The Argo.
McCoy is the Founder and CEO of STORE Research Inc., Founding Partner of McCoy Ventures, and the second cousin three times removed of two-time Nobel laureate Linus Pauling (Chemistry 1954, Peace 1962).
Reference Bios & Philosophy
Short Bio & Investment Philosophy
Condensed references for press, partners, and portfolio founders.
Short Bio
Chris McCoy — Founding Partner, McCoy Ventures
Chris McCoy built governance infrastructure that has managed $30 million since 2020 with zero constitutional violations across 126 governors in 30 countries. His insight: Alexander Hamilton (1787) and Leslie Lamport (1982) independently solved the same problem 195 years apart, distributed agreement under adversarial conditions. He formalized this as constitutional mathematics, the first mathematical framework for democratic AI governance.
Co-inventor of the BlockFinBFT consensus algorithm (two US patents, 16 citing entities including IBM, Mastercard International, and Capital One). In 2014, Marc Andreessen recognized McCoy on his "50 Unknown Rockstars in Tech" list for thinking in networks, payments, and sports media. Through McCoy Ventures, he invests in the inputs that drive computing and AI and in technologies that distribute opportunity rather than concentrate power. Second cousin three times removed of two-time Nobel laureate Linus Pauling (Chemistry 1954, Peace 1962).
Investment Philosophy
Addition — How McCoy Ventures Evaluates Founders
McCoy's insight that Alexander Hamilton (1787) and Leslie Lamport (1982) independently solved the same problem 195 years apart provides the analytical framework: systems that prevent faction capture through constitutional mathematics. The method: symbiosis, deals where all parties agree and everyone gains strength.His experience building democratically governed infrastructure ($30 million governed since 2020, zero violations) provides operational proof that mathematical governance works under real economic pressure. We back founders who distribute rather than concentrate power, applying the same constitutional mathematics at earlier stages.Second cousin three times removed of two-time Nobel laureate Linus Pauling (Chemistry 1954, Peace 1962). Cross-domain pattern recognition: seeing mathematical structure in one field and recognizing it applies to another.
Gallery
McCoy Gallery
Professional photos of Chris McCoy available for press and media use.
McCoy Ventures: Powering the Future of Innovation
McCoy Ventures is a private family office, innovation lab, and philanthropic donor investing in technologies and initiatives that make the future more accessible to everyone.
What is McCoy Ventures?
- Mission: We believe opportunity should be available to the many, not just the few. We back founders building transformative companies that expand economic participation
- Type: Private family office, innovation lab, and philanthropic organization
- Investment Stage: Pre-seed and seed technology companies
- Founders: Chris McCoy (Systems architect, STORE Protocol creator) and Ciara McCoy (Community builder, small business advocate)
- Philosophy: Combining systems architecture expertise with community-focused values
Investment Philosophy and Approach
- Data-Driven Investments: Unique quantitative data analytics for investment decisions including dozens of portfolio investments
- Focus Areas: Web3, AI, decentralized systems, creator economy, energy innovation
- Investment Thesis: Technologies that distribute rather than concentrate power through mathematical governance frameworks
- Support Model: Long-term partnerships providing mentorship and strategic guidance beyond capital
Portfolio Categories
- Breakthrough Technologies: STORE Protocol, Ethereum, Lightcell energy generators
- Creator Economy: Encore, Zestworld, YourSports
- Web3 & Crypto: ZenLedger, Strix Leviathan, Zcash
- Community Projects: Rain or Shyne, local initiatives
- Decentralized Systems: Footprint Ventures, democratically governed infrastructure
Beyond Investment - McCoy Ventures Ecosystem
- Studios: Innovation lab and startup incubator for emerging technologies
- Sports Initiatives: Athletic investments and charitable programs
- Entertainment Ventures: Film production, books, and media projects
- Philanthropic Work: Human rights, economic improvement, education initiatives
- Political Engagement: Supporting democratic participation and governance innovation
Key Statistics and Impact
- Portfolio spans dozens of investments across multiple sectors
- Investments from 2006 to present, demonstrating long-term commitment
- STORE Protocol operates 450+ AI endpoints across 5 global data centers
- Focus on founders who make the future happen faster, in an equitable way
About McCoy Ventures - Founders and Philosophy
Chris McCoy - Co-Founder
- Role: Systems architect, investor, and community builder
- Key Achievement: Created STORE Protocol, addressing AI governance and democratic participation
- Background: Grew up in rural Washington on food stamps, became successful systems architect
- Notable Heritage: Second cousin twice removed from Linus Pauling (only two-time solo Nobel Prize winner)
- Philosophy: Combines scientific excellence with social conscience
- Track Record: Two-decade history of anticipating technological shifts from social platforms to blockchain to AI
- Previous Ventures: Founder of Data4America, YourSports, Footprint Ventures
- Education: University of Washington alumnus
- Leadership: Former Washington DECA State President and National DECA President
Ciara McCoy - Co-Founder
- Role: Small business advocate, program developer, community builder
- Current Position: Head of SMB Advocacy at Meta
- Key Achievement: Created Meta's Global SMB Advocacy Program
- Background: San Francisco native, former UCLA track and field athlete
- Athletic Career: Competed in cross-country and steeplechase at UCLA
- Creative Work: Executive produced documentary "They Came From All Over"
- Focus: Initiatives that strengthen social and economic connections
Our Investment Approach
- Structure: Private family office for flexible, patient capital
- Innovation Lab: Incubating breakthrough technologies and ideas
- Philanthropic Integration: Combining investments with social impact initiatives
- Core Belief: Opportunity should be available to the many, not just the few
- Method: Mathematical governance frameworks that distribute power
- Experience: Building democratically governed infrastructure at scale
Investment Philosophy
- Focus on technologies that make the future more accessible to everyone
- Back founders who distribute rather than concentrate power
- Support breakthrough technologies, creator platforms, and decentralized systems
- Invest in pre-seed and seed stages for maximum impact
- Combine systems architecture expertise with community-focused values
McCoy Ventures Portfolio - Innovative Companies We Back
Explore McCoy VC's diverse portfolio of innovative startups across fintech, health-tech, AI, and enterprise software that are redefining their industries.
Notable Investments
- STORE Protocol: Decentralized cloud platform with democratic governance, 450+ AI endpoints (Co-creator, Founder's round)
- Ethereum: Revolutionary blockchain platform enabling smart contracts (First pre-sale participant)
- Lightcell: Ultra-dense electric generators using light technology, portable 'dyson spheres' (Early seed round)
- ZenLedger: TurboTax-like platform for crypto taxes (2018 seed round)
- Encore: Financial services infrastructure for creator economy (2022 pre-seed)
- Zestworld: Patreon-like platform for comic book creators (2022 Series A)
- Strix Leviathan: Institutional crypto investment platform (2018 seed round)
- Rain or Shyne: Technology-enabled social experiences in Seattle (2021 seed round)
- YourSports: Social network for sports history (2006 founder's round, Chris McCoy founder)
- Footprint Ventures: Web3, cloud computing, and media innovation (2015 founder's round, Chris McCoy founder)
- Zcash: Privacy-focused cryptocurrency (Pre-sale round)
Investment Categories
- Web3 & Decentralized Systems: STORE, Ethereum, Zcash, Footprint
- Creator Economy: Encore, Zestworld, YourSports
- Energy Innovation: Lightcell revolutionary generators
- Financial Technology: ZenLedger, Strix Leviathan
- Social & Community: Rain or Shyne, community projects
Portfolio Impact
- Dozens of portfolio investments across multiple sectors
- Supporting founders from pre-seed to Series A
- Focus on transformative technologies that expand access
- Long-term partnerships beyond capital investment
Investment at McCoy Ventures - Apply for Funding
Hello! We're McCoy Ventures (Chris and Ciara). We invest in pre-seed and seed technology companies that help make the future happen faster, in an equitable way.
What We Look For
- Stage: Pre-seed and seed stage technology companies
- Founders: Visionaries building equitable solutions that expand access
- Technologies: Platforms that democratize resources and opportunity
- Impact: Solutions that distribute rather than concentrate power
- Sectors: Web3, AI, creator economy, energy, community platforms
Investment Criteria
- Strong founder-market fit with technical expertise
- Scalable solutions addressing real problems
- Alignment with our philosophy of expanding economic participation
- Potential for democratic governance or community ownership
- Data-driven approach to growth and impact
How to Apply
Submit your pitch at https://www.mccoy.vc/investment. Our application form helps us understand your business, invention, and idea. If we think your invention is a good fit, one of us will reach out to schedule time to learn more. All data remains confidential with McCoy Ventures, LLC.
What Happens Next
- Review of submission within 2-3 weeks
- Initial conversation if there's alignment
- Due diligence process using our data-driven approach
- Partnership terms discussion
- Long-term support beyond capital investment
