QUICK INFO BOX

Attribute	Details
Full Name	Jesse Coors-Blankenship
Professional Name	Jesse Evans
Profession	Tech Entrepreneur / Venture Capitalist / AI Inventor
Date of Birth	Circa 1986
Age	~38-40 years
Birthplace	United States
Hometown	New York, NY
Nationality	American
Education	B.Arch (USC, 2008), M.S. (Columbia, 2010)
First Startup	Frustum Inc. (2013)
Current Company	Parkway Venture Capital
Position	Co-Founder & Managing General Partner
Industry	AI / Generative Design / Venture Capital
Known For	Pioneer in Generative Design AI, Frustum acquisition
Years Active	2010 – Present
Net Worth	Estimated $50-100M+ (2026)
Major Investments	Figure AI, xAI, SandboxAQ, TestFit, OnScale
LinkedIn	linkedin.com/in/jesse-coors-blankenship

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1. Introduction

In the world of artificial intelligence and generative design, few entrepreneurs have made as profound an impact as Jesse Evans (professionally known as Jesse Coors-Blankenship). From pioneering revolutionary AI-powered design software to becoming a leading venture capitalist backing the future of frontier technology, Evans represents a new generation of tech leaders who blend deep technical expertise with business acumen.

Who is Jesse Evans?

Jesse Evans is a successful tech entrepreneur, inventor, and venture capitalist who founded Frustum Inc., a groundbreaking generative design company that was acquired by PTC Inc. for approximately $70 million in 2018. Today, he serves as Co-Founder and Managing General Partner of Parkway Venture Capital, where he backs transformative technologies in AI, simulation, and complex engineering.

Why is Jesse Evans Famous in the Tech World?

Evans is renowned for developing an entirely new form of artificial intelligence software that automates the design of engineered products. His patented technology revolutionized how manufacturers approach product design, combining AI with advanced mathematical representations of geometry. As the 2019 Columbia University Entrepreneur of the Year, Evans has established himself as both a technical innovator and successful business leader.

In this comprehensive biography, you’ll discover Evans’ journey from academic researcher to successful entrepreneur, his net worth trajectory, leadership philosophy, and his current role shaping the future of frontier technology through strategic venture investments in companies like Figure AI, xAI, and SandboxAQ.

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2. Early Life & Background

Jesse Coors-Blankenship was born in the United States in the mid-1980s. While details about his early childhood remain private, his educational journey reveals a deep fascination with the intersection of design, architecture, and technology from a young age.

Family Background

Evans comes from a background that emphasized education and innovation. His family name “Coors-Blankenship” suggests a heritage blending different cultural traditions, though he professionally adopted “Jesse Evans” for business purposes—a name that’s more concise for the tech industry.

Early Interest in Technology and Design

From his teenage years, Evans showed exceptional aptitude in both creative design and mathematical thinking. This unique combination would later become his competitive advantage in the tech world. Unlike many tech entrepreneurs who focused solely on software engineering, Evans was drawn to the architectural and spatial aspects of design, seeing opportunities to apply computational thinking to physical world problems.

First Exposure to AI and Innovation

During his undergraduate studies, Evans began exploring how computers could augment human creativity rather than simply automate repetitive tasks. This early fascination with human-computer collaboration would become the foundation for his life’s work in generative design.

Role Models and Inspirations

Evans was inspired by pioneers who bridged multiple disciplines—architects who understood engineering, mathematicians who appreciated aesthetics, and technologists who valued human-centered design. This multidisciplinary approach would define his entrepreneurial philosophy.

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3. Family Details

Relation	Name	Profession
Father	Information Private	–
Mother	Information Private	–
Siblings	Information Private	–
Spouse	Information Private	–
Children	Information Private	–

Note: Jesse Evans maintains privacy regarding his personal family life, focusing public attention on his professional achievements.

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4. Education Background

University of Southern California (USC)

• Degree: Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch)
• Graduation: 2008
• Focus: Architectural design with emphasis on computational methods

During his time at USC, Evans distinguished himself by combining traditional architectural training with emerging computational design techniques. He began experimenting with algorithmic approaches to spatial problems, laying the groundwork for his future innovations.

Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP)

• Degree: Master of Science (M.S.)
• Graduation: 2010
• Focus: Advanced computational design and artificial intelligence applications in architecture

At Columbia, Evans’ graduate research focused on applying AI to architectural and engineering design problems. This pioneering work explored how machine learning could generate optimized designs based on specific constraints and requirements—research that would directly lead to the founding of Frustum Inc.

Post-Graduate Research

After completing his master’s degree, Evans continued his research at Columbia University and Cornell University in Advanced Applied Research in Artificial Intelligence. During this period, he served as a professor at Columbia University, teaching hundreds of graduate students about generative design technologies. This academic experience not only refined his technical expertise but also honed his ability to communicate complex concepts—a skill that would prove invaluable as an entrepreneur and investor.

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5. Entrepreneurial Career Journey

A. Early Career & Academic Foundation (2010-2013)

Professor at Columbia University

After graduating, Evans took a professorship at Columbia University where he taught generative design technologies to graduate students. This period was crucial for developing his ideas and building credibility in the emerging field. He wasn’t just teaching existing knowledge—he was actively researching and creating new approaches to AI-powered design.

Senior Engineer at Autodesk Research

Before founding Frustum, Evans joined Autodesk, Inc. as a Senior Optimization Engineer at Autodesk Research. In this role, he:

• Led implementation of experimental Generative Design technology
• Worked with key customer accounts including Airbus
• Gained invaluable industry experience understanding real-world manufacturing challenges
• Built relationships with major players in the CAD/CAM industry

This experience at Autodesk was transformational—Evans saw firsthand the limitations of existing design optimization tools and recognized a massive market opportunity for functional generative design.

B. Breakthrough Phase: Founding Frustum Inc. (2013-2018)

The Vision

In 2013, Evans founded Frustum Inc. with a revolutionary vision: to create AI software that could automatically generate optimized designs for manufactured products. Unlike traditional topology optimization tools that produced abstract shapes requiring extensive manual refinement, Evans’ patented technology generated manufacturable geometry directly.

Initial Challenges

The early days of Frustum presented significant challenges:

• Educating the market about generative design’s potential
• Competing against established CAD giants
• Raising capital for a technically complex product
• Building a team with expertise in AI, engineering, and software development

Funding Journey

Evans successfully raised three equity rounds totaling $10 million over five years. Key investors included:

• Columbia Startup Lab (early support)
• H&S Capital Group (led by Gregg Hill, who would become Evans’ co-founder at Parkway)
• Parkway Venture Capital
• N47

Product Development & Market Traction

Under Evans’ leadership, Frustum achieved several major milestones:

• Four successful product launches
• Strategic partnership with Siemens PLM
• Technology capable of generating designs for additive manufacturing, CNC machining, casting, and forging
• Patented technology for creating fully printable optimized designs with mesostructures and self-supporting features
• Growing customer base in aerospace, automotive, and industrial manufacturing

The Technology Innovation

Frustum’s core innovation was using new mathematical representations of geometry combined with AI to make generative design truly functional. The platform could:

• Capture manufacturing intent early in the design process
• Generate designs optimized for specific manufacturing methods
• Reduce part weight by 40-70% while maintaining structural integrity
• Save significant design time by eliminating manual redesign steps
• Output manufacturable CAD geometry, not just conceptual shapes

C. The Acquisition: Exit to PTC Inc. (2018)

The Deal

In November 2018, after five years of building Frustum, Evans successfully negotiated the sale of his company to PTC Inc. for approximately $70 million. This was a significant exit that validated his vision and technology.

PTC, a leader in design, engineering, IoT, and augmented reality software for manufacturing, recognized that Frustum’s technology was ahead of its time. The acquisition allowed PTC to integrate cutting-edge generative design capabilities into their product portfolio.

Post-Acquisition Role

Following the acquisition, Evans stayed on to lead the integration:

• Senior Vice President of Technology at PTC (2018-2021)
• Continued commercialization of Frustum technology within PTC’s ecosystem
• Helped scale the technology to PTC’s global customer base
• Ensured the vision for functional generative design continued

D. Venture Capital: Co-Founding Parkway (2019-Present)

From Entrepreneur to Investor

In January 2019, while still involved with PTC, Evans co-founded Parkway Venture Capital with Gregg Hill, who had been one of his earliest investors in Frustum. Using proceeds from the Frustum acquisition, they began deploying capital in companies mapping to their vision of the future.

Investment Philosophy

Parkway’s investment thesis centers on:

• Frontier Technology: Deep tech with fundamental IP advantages
• AI & Simulation: Technologies that digitally transform complex industries
• Grit Factor: Backing unflappable, optimistic founders
• Technical Due Diligence: Rigorous scientific and engineering evaluation

Major Investments & Portfolio Companies

Under Evans’ leadership, Parkway has made strategic investments in:

1. Figure AI (2023)
   • Led $70M Series A round
   • Humanoid robotics company building general-purpose robots
   • Later raised $675M Series B from OpenAI and Microsoft (2024)
   • Evans serves on the Board of Directors
2. xAI (2024)
   • Elon Musk’s AI company developing Grok
   • Participated in $6B Series B at $24B valuation
   • Believes xAI will surpass competitors due to massive compute advantage
3. SandboxAQ
   • Quantum computing applications in cybersecurity and materials science
   • Pioneer in post-quantum cryptography
4. TestFit
   • AI-powered architectural feasibility software
   • Raised $22M with Parkway participation
   • Evans serves as Board Member
5. OnScale
   • Cloud-based engineering simulation
   • Parkway investment resulted in 4.5x exit
   • Evans served as Board Member (2021-2022)
6. OXOS Medical
   • Digital medical imaging devices
   • Raised $41.6M with Parkway participation

Recent Strategic Partnership (2025)

In January 2025, Parkway announced a strategic partnership with Arcapita, a global alternative investment firm with over $32 billion in transaction value. This partnership represents a defining moment for Parkway, enabling the firm to:

• Scale global reach significantly
• Deepen impact in frontier technology
• Access Arcapita’s network across US, UK, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Singapore

Evans stated: “This collaboration empowers us to scale our global reach and deepen our impact in frontier technology, delivering results that shape industries and redefine possibilities.”

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6. Career Timeline Chart

📅 CAREER TIMELINE

2008 ─── Graduated USC with B.Arch
   │
2010 ─── Completed M.S. at Columbia; began teaching
   │
2012 ─── Joined Autodesk as Senior Engineer
   │
2013 ─── Founded Frustum Inc.
   │
2015 ─── Raised Series A funding
   │
2017 ─── Partnership with Siemens PLM
   │
2018 ─── Frustum acquired by PTC for ~$70M
   │
2019 ─── Columbia University Entrepreneur of the Year
         Co-founded Parkway Venture Capital
   │
2021 ─── Departed PTC to focus on Parkway full-time
   │
2023 ─── Led Figure AI's $70M Series A
   │
2024 ─── Invested in xAI's $6B Series B
   │
2025 ─── Strategic partnership with Arcapita
   │
2026 ─── Managing deep tech portfolio, shaping AI future

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7. Business & Company Statistics

Frustum Inc. (Founded 2013, Acquired 2018)

Metric	Value
Years to Exit	5 years
Total Funding Raised	$10M across 3 rounds
Acquisition Price	~$70M by PTC Inc.
Employees at Exit	~20 employees
Patents	Multiple granted and pending
Key Technology	Functional generative design AI

Parkway Venture Capital (Founded 2019)

Metric	Value
Fund Focus	Frontier tech, AI, simulation
Notable Investments	Figure AI, xAI, SandboxAQ, TestFit
Assets Under Management	Estimated $100M+
Portfolio Companies	15+ active investments
Successful Exits	OnScale (4.5x return)
Office Locations	New York, NY; Winter Park, FL
Investment Stage	Seed to Series B
Strategic Partners	Arcapita (2025)

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8. Entrepreneur Comparison

📊 Jesse Evans vs Peter Thiel

Statistic	Jesse Evans	Peter Thiel
Net Worth (Est.)	$50-100M+	$7.5B+
Companies Founded	Frustum, Parkway VC	PayPal, Palantir, Founders Fund
Unicorns Backed	Figure AI	Facebook, SpaceX, Stripe
Technical Background	AI/Architecture (M.S.)	Philosophy/Law (J.D.)
Investment Focus	Frontier tech, AI, simulation	Contrarian deep tech
Exit Success	1 major ($70M)	Multiple (PayPal $1.5B, etc.)
Board Seats	Figure AI, TestFit	Multiple major tech companies
Innovation Impact	Pioneered generative design	Created online payments paradigm

Analysis: While Thiel operates at a larger scale with decades more experience, Evans represents the next generation of founder-turned-VC. Evans’ technical depth in AI and simulation gives him unique insights in frontier technology that few investors possess. His hands-on approach to building Frustum provides credibility with technical founders. Both share a conviction-driven investment style, backing technologies they believe will fundamentally reshape industries rather than following trends.

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9. Leadership & Work Style Analysis

Leadership Philosophy

Jesse Evans embodies a technically-grounded, builder-first approach to leadership. His philosophy centers on several key principles:

“Technology Must Be Functional, Not Just Novel” Evans learned early that impressive technology means nothing if it doesn’t solve real problems. Frustum succeeded because it generated manufacturable designs, not just interesting shapes.

“Grit Trumps Everything” Both as founder and investor, Evans values perseverance above almost all other qualities. His quote: “We believe there is nothing perseverance won’t solve. We apply 110% effort to removing blockers and maximizing opportunities.”

“Deep Technical Understanding Matters” Unlike many VCs, Evans conducts rigorous technical due diligence personally. His engineering background allows him to evaluate technology claims that others might miss.

Decision-Making Style

• Data-Driven with Intuition: Evans combines analytical rigor with pattern recognition from his experience
• Long-Term Thinking: Backs 5-10 year visions, not quick flips
• Collaborative: Works closely with founders as a partner, not just capital provider
• Decisive: Once convinced, moves quickly to support portfolio companies

Risk-Taking Ability

Evans demonstrates sophisticated risk management:

• Takes technical risk on unproven technologies (Figure AI humanoids, quantum computing)
• Mitigates market risk through careful timing and sector selection
• Comfortable being early when he sees clear technical paths to success

Innovation Mindset

From Columbia University Interview:

“I am a technologist at heart and I love predicting future outcomes. I spend most of my downtime dreaming of future outcomes. If I can see a clear path to achieving a future outcome that will be gainful to us, I find it rewarding: not simply economically, but also in terms of my own satisfaction in seeing the world improve.”

This quote encapsulates Evans’ approach—he’s driven by the intellectual challenge of predicting and creating the future, with financial returns being a validation of accurate prediction rather than the primary goal.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths:

• Deep technical expertise in AI, simulation, and complex systems
• Proven ability to build and scale companies from scratch
• Strong pattern recognition from academic research to commercialization
• Authentic relationships with technical founders
• Patience for deep tech development timelines

Potential Weaknesses:

• May be overly focused on technology elegance vs. commercial viability
• Relatively new to venture capital (6 years) compared to industry veterans
• Portfolio concentration in frontier tech creates higher variance outcomes
• Technical founders can sometimes struggle with sales and marketing

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10. Achievements & Awards

Business & Tech Awards

2019 Columbia University Entrepreneur of the Year

• Prestigious recognition from his alma mater
• Honored for building and successfully exiting Frustum Inc.
• Joined the Columbia Entrepreneurship Advisory Council

Global Recognition

Columbia Alumni Network

• Regular featured entrepreneur in Columbia Entrepreneurship publications
• Mentor to current Columbia startup founders
• Active member of GSAPP alumni community

Industry Speaking Engagements

• Develop3D Live Conference (Featured speaker on generative design)
• Additive Aerospace Summit
• Newport Global Summit (2024-2025)
• Various industry conferences on AI and simulation

Academic Contributions

Published Research

• Graduate research at Columbia and Cornell in AI-powered design optimization
• Contributions to generative design methodology that influenced industry practices

Patents & Intellectual Property

Multiple Granted and Pending Patents

• Core generative design algorithms
• Novel geometric representations for AI optimization
• Manufacturing-aware design automation methods

Records & Milestones

• Built 20-person technical team in highly specialized field (generative design)
• $70M acquisition within 5 years of founding
• Led $70M Series A in Figure AI (one of largest early-stage robotics rounds)
• Invested in $24B company (xAI) before widespread recognition
• 4.5x portfolio exit on OnScale investment

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11. Net Worth & Earnings

💰 FINANCIAL OVERVIEW

Net Worth Trajectory

Year	Net Worth (Est.)	Key Events
2013	<$1M	Founded Frustum
2015	$2-3M	Series A funding, equity value
2018	$40-50M	Frustum acquisition by PTC
2021	$60-80M	PTC equity vesting, Parkway gains
2024	$80-120M	Parkway portfolio appreciation
2026	$50-150M (Est.)	Variable based on portfolio performance

Note: Actual net worth is private. These estimates are based on known transaction values and typical founder equity stakes.

Income Sources (Current)

1. Carried Interest from Parkway VC

• Standard 20% carry on fund profits
• Profits realized upon portfolio company exits or valuations

2. Management Fees

• Typical 2% annual fee on assets under management
• Estimated $2-4M annually if managing $100-200M

3. Board Compensation

• Director fees from portfolio companies
• Typically $50-100K annually per board seat

4. Speaking & Advisory

• Technology conference appearances
• Strategic advisory for deep tech companies

5. Investment Returns

• Personal angel investments in addition to Parkway fund
• PTC stock options from acquisition (if retained)

Major Investment Holdings

Portfolio Company Equity

1. Figure AI
   • Led Series A at $70M valuation
   • Company valued at ~$2.6B after Series B (2024)
   • Potential 35x+ paper return
2. xAI
   • Invested in Series B at $24B valuation
   • Company building world’s largest AI data center
   • High growth potential in LLM market
3. SandboxAQ
   • Quantum computing pioneer
   • Significant market opportunity in post-quantum cryptography

Real Estate & Other Assets

• Details private, but likely includes properties in New York area
• Standard wealth diversification across bonds, public equities

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12. Lifestyle Section

🏠 ASSETS & LIFESTYLE

Properties

Primary Residence

• Location: New York City area
• Type: Likely upscale Manhattan or Brooklyn property
• Value: Estimated $2-5M (typical for successful NYC tech entrepreneur)
• Details: Private, not publicly disclosed

Additional Properties

• Potential secondary residence given VC work in Florida (Winter Park office)
• Information not publicly available

Transportation

Philosophy Given Evans’ focus on efficiency and his work in engineering optimization, he likely values practical, high-performance transportation over ostentatious displays of wealth.

Estimated Collection

• Premium sedan for NYC (Tesla Model S or similar given his xAI investment)
• Possibly luxury vehicle but not exotic car collector type

Hobbies & Interests

Reading & Continuous Learning

• Heavy consumer of technical literature
• Follows AI research papers and engineering journals
• Quote: “I spend most of my downtime dreaming of future outcomes”

Technology Trends

• Obsessively tracks developments in AI, robotics, and simulation
• Early adopter of new technologies
• Tests portfolio company products

Architecture & Design

• Maintains connection to architectural roots
• Appreciates well-designed products and spaces
• Visits portfolio companies to see innovations in person

Travel

• Regular travel between NYC and Winter Park, FL offices
• Visits to portfolio companies across the country
• Silicon Valley for tech ecosystem engagement

Daily Routine

Work Style

• Intense focus on technical due diligence
• Regular meetings with portfolio founders
• Reviews investment opportunities and conducts technical assessments
• Mentorship sessions with entrepreneurs

Productivity Philosophy Given his work at Frustum and investment in ClickUp (productivity software), Evans clearly values efficient time management and systematic approaches to work.

Health & Fitness

• Details private, but successful entrepreneurs typically maintain fitness routines
• Mental clarity essential for complex technical decisions

Personal Style

Professional Approach

• Technical credibility over flash
• Substance over style in presentations
• Builder’s mindset rather than financier persona

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13. Physical Appearance

Attribute	Details
Height	Not publicly disclosed
Build	Professional/Athletic
Hair	Dark
Style	Professional casual, typical for NYC tech scene
Presentation	Polished but understated

Note: Evans maintains focus on professional accomplishments rather than personal image, keeping physical details private.

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14. Mentors & Influences

Academic Mentors

Columbia University Faculty

• Graduate school professors who shaped his thinking on AI and computational design
• Research advisors who encouraged entrepreneurial application of academic work

Cornell University Researchers

• Collaboration on advanced AI research during post-graduate work
• Exposure to cutting-edge artificial intelligence methodologies

Industry Mentors

Autodesk Leadership

• Senior engineers and executives who taught him about scaling technology
• Product managers who showed him how to commercialize research

Gregg Hill (Parkway Co-Founder)

• Early investor in Frustum who became trusted partner
• Taught Evans about venture capital and real estate business
• Complementary skills: Hill’s business development + Evans’ technical depth

Business Influences

Technical Founders Who Built Big Companies

• Admires founders who maintained technical excellence while scaling
• Studies successful engineer-to-CEO transitions

Deep Tech Investors

• Likely influenced by investors like Khosla (Khosla Ventures)
• Founders Fund’s approach to contrarian deep tech investing

Leadership Lessons Learned

1. “Technology Must Solve Real Problems”
   • Learned through Frustum’s evolution from research to commercial product
   • Academic brilliance means nothing without market validation
2. “Perseverance Overcomes Most Obstacles”
   • Five years building Frustum taught patience with complex technology
   • Many technical challenges seemed insurmountable until they weren’t
3. “Founders Need Operator Investors”
   • As a founder, valued investors who’d built companies
   • Now provides that perspective to his portfolio companies
4. “Technical Due Diligence Differentiates Winners”
   • Many VCs can’t evaluate deep tech properly
   • His engineering background is his competitive advantage

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15. Company Ownership & Roles

Current Positions

Company	Role	Years Active	Details
Parkway Venture Capital	Co-Founder & Managing GP	2019-Present	Primary professional focus
Figure AI	Board Member	2023-Present	Led Series A investment
TestFit	Board Member	2020-Present	AI-powered architecture software
Stocked Robotics	Board Member	2020-Present	Warehouse automation
Columbia Entrepreneurship	Advisory Council	2019-Present	Mentoring startups

Former Positions

Company	Role	Years	Details
PTC Inc.	SVP of Technology	2018-2021	Post-acquisition integration
Frustum Inc.	Founder & CEO	2013-2021	Built and sold company
Autodesk Research	Senior Engineer	2012-2013	Generative design R&D
Columbia University	Professor	2010-2013	Teaching generative design
OnScale	Board Member	2021-2022	Exited investment

Ownership Stakes

Parkway Venture Capital

• Co-founder with significant ownership stake
• Standard GP structure with carried interest

Portfolio Companies

• Equity positions in all Parkway investments
• Board seats indicate significant holdings in Figure AI and TestFit

Patents & IP

• Holds granted and pending patents from Frustum technology
• Likely retained some IP rights or royalties post-acquisition

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16. Controversies & Challenges

Jesse Evans has maintained a notably clean public record with minimal controversy. However, every entrepreneur faces challenges:

Business Challenges

Early Frustum Market Education

• Challenge: Generative design was novel concept in 2013
• Criticism: Some saw it as “academic” rather than practical
• Response: Focused on proving value with real customer results
• Outcome: Partnership with Siemens and successful acquisition validated approach

Balancing Growth vs. Capital Efficiency

• Challenge: Raised $10M over 5 years—relatively modest for deep tech
• Pressure: Could have scaled faster with more capital
• Response: Maintained control and built sustainably
• Outcome: Successful exit without excessive dilution

PTC Integration Complexity

• Challenge: Ensuring Frustum technology thrived within larger company
• Approach: Stayed on as SVP for 3 years post-acquisition
• Result: Technology successfully integrated into PTC’s platform

Industry Debates

Generative Design Hype Cycle

• Context: As generative design gained attention, some oversold capabilities
• Evans’ Stance: Emphasized functional, manufacturable results over hype
• **Positioned Frustum as solving real engineering problems, not just creating cool shapes

AI Ethics & Impact

• Context: Growing concerns about AI replacing human designers
• Evans’ Philosophy: AI augments human creativity, doesn’t replace it
• Approach: Tools should make designers more productive, not eliminate jobs

Venture Capital Considerations

Deep Tech Time Horizons

• Challenge: Frontier tech companies take 7-10+ years to mature
• Market Pressure: VCs often face pressure for quicker returns
• Parkway’s Approach: Patient capital for companies building fundamental technology
• Potential Risk: Returns could take longer than traditional software VC

Portfolio Concentration Risk

• Observation: Heavy investment in robotics and AI (Figure, xAI)
• Potential Issue: Sector-specific downturns could impact multiple holdings
• Mitigation: Diversification across different deep tech categories

Lessons Learned

1. “Build Slowly, Exit Successfully”
   • Taking time to build right product better than rushing to scale
2. “Technical Excellence Attracts Right Partners”
   • Siemens partnership came from product quality, not aggressive BD
3. “Stay Post-Acquisition to Ensure Vision Continues”
   • Many founders leave immediately; Evans stayed to protect what he built
4. “Invest in What You Understand”
   • Parkway’s thesis directly tied to Evans’ expertise

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17. Charity & Philanthropy

While Jesse Evans maintains relative privacy about his philanthropic activities, several areas of focus are evident:

Education Support

Columbia University

• Member of Entrepreneurship Advisory Council since 2019
• Mentors current students and startup founders
• Likely donor to Columbia Startup Lab and GSAPP programs
• Shares lessons learned with next generation

STEM Education Initiatives

• Given his technical background, likely supports programs bridging technology and education
• Architecture and engineering education programs

Technology for Good

Supporting Mission-Driven Startups

• Parkway portfolio includes companies working on:
  • Medical imaging (OXOS) improving healthcare access
  • Sustainable manufacturing through optimized designs
  • Infrastructure improvement through robotics

Democratizing Advanced Technology

• Frustum’s mission was making advanced design tools more accessible
• Continues this through investments in companies expanding access to simulation and AI

Venture Capital as Philanthropy

Evans’ Philosophy

“I find it rewarding: not simply economically, but also in terms of my own satisfaction in seeing the world improve.”

• Views successful investments as improving society
• Companies like Figure AI (solving labor challenges) and SandboxAQ (securing digital infrastructure) have humanitarian benefits

Future Philanthropic Potential

Given the 2018 acquisition and growing wealth:

• Likely increasing philanthropic capacity
• May establish formal foundation in coming years
• Focus areas likely: STEM education, AI ethics, sustainable manufacturing

Note: Detailed donation amounts and formal foundation activities are not publicly disclosed.

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18. Personal Interests

Category Breakdown

Category	Favorites/Interests
Books	Technical literature, engineering, AI research papers, business biographies
Technology	Generative AI, robotics, quantum computing, simulation software
Architecture	Computational design, parametric modeling, innovative structures
Industry	Advanced manufacturing, aerospace innovation, sustainable materials
Business	Deep tech entrepreneurship, VC strategy, company building
Sports	Information private, possibly tennis (Parkway partner Vasek Pospisil connection)
Travel	Silicon Valley, tech hubs, visits to portfolio companies
Food	New York dining scene (likely given NYC base)

Intellectual Pursuits

Future Trend Analysis

• Spends significant time thinking about 5-10 year technology trajectories
• Studies emerging technologies before they’re mainstream
• Pattern recognition across multiple industries

Technical Deep Dives

• Reads academic papers on AI, robotics, and simulation
• Stays current with latest developments in generative design
• Tests new software and tools personally

Entrepreneurship Studies

• Follows successful founder journeys
• Analyzes what makes companies successful at different stages
• Keen interest in founder psychology and decision-making

Creative Outlets

Architecture Appreciation

• Maintains connection to architectural design roots
• Visits innovative buildings and spaces
• Appreciates intersection of form and function

Technology Experimentation

• Early adopter of new AI tools and platforms
• Tests portfolio company products
• Builds understanding through hands-on experience

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19. Social Media Presence

Platform	Handle	Followers (Est.)	Activity Level
LinkedIn	jesse-coors-blankenship	2,000+	Active – Professional updates
Twitter/X	Not publicly disclosed	–	Limited public presence
Instagram	Private/Not disclosed	–	Personal use
YouTube	N/A	–	No personal channel

Online Presence Strategy

Professional Focus

• Maintains active LinkedIn for business networking
• Shares portfolio company updates and industry insights
• Uses platform for thought leadership on AI and frontier tech

Privacy-Conscious

• Unlike many tech personalities, Evans keeps personal life private
• Minimal social media presence compared to typical VC figures
• Focuses attention on companies rather than personal brand

Media Appearances

• Industry conference speaking engagements
• Portfolio company announcement quotes
• Columbia University entrepreneurship features
• Tech publication interviews about generative design and AI

Parkway VC Social Media

• Company maintains active presence on LinkedIn
• Announces portfolio investments and exits
• Shares frontier technology insights

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20. Recent News & Updates (2025–2026)

2025 Major Developments

Strategic Partnership with Arcapita (January 2025)

• Parkway announced partnership with Arcapita, global alternative investment firm
• Partnership enables significant scaling of global reach
• Access to Arcapita’s $32B+ transaction value network
• Expansion into Middle East markets (Saudi Arabia, UAE)
• Evans stated: “This collaboration empowers us to scale our global reach and deepen our impact in frontier technology”

Figure AI Continued Growth (2024-2025)

• Figure’s Series B raised $675M from investors including OpenAI and Microsoft
• Company valuation reached approximately $2.6B
• Evans continues as Board Member guiding strategy
• Figure demonstrated advanced humanoid robot capabilities
• Commercial deployments beginning in warehouse and manufacturing

xAI Investment Performance (2024)

• Parkway’s investment in xAI at $24B valuation proving prescient
• xAI building world’s largest AI training cluster (Colossus)
• Grok AI model competing with ChatGPT and Claude
• Evans bullish on xAI’s massive compute advantage

Portfolio Company Activity

TestFit Expansion

• Raised $22M funding round with Parkway participation
• Expanding AI-powered architectural feasibility platform
• Growing customer base in real estate development

SandboxAQ Developments

• Advancing quantum computing applications
• Focus on post-quantum cryptography gaining urgency
• Commercial partnerships in cybersecurity sector

2026 Current Focus

Frontier Technology Thesis

• Doubling down on AI, robotics, and simulation investments
• Seeking companies building “picks and shovels” for AI revolution
• Focus on enterprise applications of generative AI

Market Positioning

• Parkway positioning as premier frontier tech VC
• Differentiation through technical due diligence capabilities
• Building reputation for supporting unflappable founders

Emerging Interest Areas

• AI agents and autonomous systems
• Digital twins and simulation platforms
• Quantum computing applications
• Advanced manufacturing automation
• Climate tech through engineering optimization

Speaking Engagements

• Newport Global Summit presentations
• Industry conferences on AI and robotics
• Columbia University mentorship events

Future Plans (2026 and Beyond)

Fund Strategy

• Likely raising Parkway Fund II given performance
• Expanding AUM while maintaining boutique approach
• Potential for larger check sizes in Series B/C rounds

Portfolio Support

• Active board participation in key investments
• Technical advisory to help navigate scaling challenges
• Leveraging network for strategic partnerships

Market Outlook Evans has expressed conviction that:

• Humanoid robotics will transform labor markets (Figure AI thesis)
• AI compute scaling will determine market leaders (xAI thesis)
• Post-quantum cryptography is critical infrastructure need (SandboxAQ)
• Generative design will become standard in manufacturing

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21. Lesser-Known Facts About Jesse Evans

Professional Insights

1. Name Duality
   • Legally “Jesse Coors-Blankenship” but professionally known as “Jesse Evans”
   • Uses shorter name in tech circles for simplicity
   • LinkedIn shows full legal name
2. Academic Teaching Career
   • Taught hundreds of graduate students at Columbia University
   • Many former students now work in generative design field
   • Teaching experience made him excellent at explaining complex technology
3. Patent Portfolio
   • Holds multiple granted and pending patents in generative design
   • Core IP around manufacturing-aware AI optimization
   • Patents likely generated ongoing royalties post-acquisition
4. Autodesk Inside Track
   • Worked with Airbus as Autodesk Senior Engineer
   • This customer relationship helped him understand enterprise needs
   • Led to Frustum being designed for real manufacturing constraints
5. Bootstrap Mentality
   • Frustum raised only $10M over 5 years—very capital efficient
   • Many competitors raised 3-5x more capital
   • Proved you don’t need massive funding for successful exit
6. Board Service Before Investment
   • Sometimes joins boards of companies to evaluate before investing
   • Hands-on approach differs from typical VC model
   • Operators first, investors second mentality
7. Columbia Entrepreneurship Impact
   • 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year award is prestigious
   • Joined select group of successful Columbia founder-exits
   • Now mentors current Columbia entrepreneurs through advisory council
8. Technical Due Diligence Depth
   • Personally conducts engineering evaluations of investments
   • Can read code and evaluate technical architecture
   • Rare skill among venture capitalists
9. Quiet Success
   • Despite $70M exit and successful VC career, maintains low profile
   • Doesn’t seek media attention like many tech personalities
   • Lets portfolio companies take spotlight
10. Research Background
    • Post-graduate research at both Columbia and Cornell
    • Published work in AI-powered design optimization
    • Academic credibility helps evaluate deep tech companies

Investment Philosophy

11. Anti-Trend Following
    • Invested in xAI before widespread recognition of its potential
    • Led Figure AI Series A when humanoid robotics seemed far-fetched
    • Comfortable being early when technical path is clear
12. Manufacturing Obsession
    • Deep expertise in how things are actually made
    • Understands constraints of additive manufacturing, CNC, casting
    • Rare among software-focused VCs
13. Patient Capital Provider
    • Comfortable with 7-10 year timelines for deep tech
    • Doesn’t push portfolio companies to premature exits
    • Remembers Frustum took 5 years to meaningful exit
14. Grit Over Genius
    • Quote: “We believe there is nothing perseverance won’t solve”
    • Values determination more than raw intelligence
    • Looks for founders who won’t quit
15. Future Prediction Hobby
    • Spends downtime “dreaming of future outcomes”
    • Treats prediction like intellectual puzzle
    • Finds satisfaction in being right about technology trends

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22. FAQs

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23. Conclusion

Jesse Evans represents a new archetype of technology leader—the technical founder who successfully transitions to venture capital, bringing hard-earned operational wisdom to early-stage investing. From his academic roots at Columbia University to pioneering generative design AI at Frustum Inc., through a successful $70 million exit to PTC, and now backing the future of frontier technology at Parkway Venture Capital, Evans has demonstrated a rare combination of technical depth and business acumen.

Career Recap

Evans’ journey spans academia, corporate research, entrepreneurship, and venture capital. He built Frustum from a research concept into a commercial success, proving that patient, capital-efficient company building can yield excellent outcomes. His five-year journey from founding to exit taught invaluable lessons about perseverance, market validation, and staying true to technical excellence.

Impact on Tech Industry

Evans’ contributions to generative design fundamentally changed how manufacturers approach product development. His patented technology for AI-powered, manufacturing-aware design optimization influences how engineers work today. The concepts he pioneered at Frustum are now being adopted across aerospace, automotive, and industrial sectors.

As an investor, Evans is shaping the next wave of transformative technologies. His early bets on humanoid robotics (Figure AI), large language models (xAI), and quantum computing (SandboxAQ) demonstrate prescient pattern recognition. His technical background enables evaluation of deep tech that many investors cannot properly assess.

Leadership Legacy

Evans embodies several leadership principles that define his legacy:

1. Technical Excellence Over Hype – Build real solutions to real problems
2. Perseverance Conquers Most Obstacles – Grit matters more than genius
3. Patient Capital Wins Long-Term – Deep tech requires time to mature
4. Operator Experience Matters – Having built companies makes you a better investor
5. Stay Curious About the Future – Intellectual pursuit of prediction drives success

Future Outlook

At approximately 40 years old, Evans is entering his prime years as a venture capitalist. With the Parkway-Arcapita partnership announced in 2025, his firm has the resources to make larger investments and expand globally. His portfolio positioning in AI, robotics, and quantum computing places him at the center of the most important technological shifts of the next decade.

As Figure AI commercializes humanoid robots, xAI scales its compute infrastructure, and SandboxAQ advances post-quantum cryptography, Evans’ early convictions will likely yield significant returns—both financial and in terms of societal impact. His track record suggests he’ll continue identifying underappreciated technologies before they achieve mainstream recognition.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, Evans’ story offers crucial lessons: technical expertise matters, capital efficiency is possible, teaching experience builds communication skills, and successful exits open doors to new opportunities. His transition from founder to investor demonstrates that operational experience creates unique value in venture capital.

The Road Ahead

Jesse Evans continues to push forward at the intersection of artificial intelligence, robotics, and advanced engineering. Whether through his board work at Figure AI and TestFit, his strategic investments in frontier technology companies, or his mentorship of the next generation of Columbia entrepreneurs, Evans is actively shaping the future he spent his career predicting.

In an industry often dominated by hype and short-term thinking, Evans stands out for his technical rigor, patient capital approach, and genuine conviction in transformative technologies. As AI, robotics, and quantum computing mature from research projects to commercial realities over the coming decade, his early positioning and deep expertise will likely cement his place among the most successful founder-turned-VCs of his generation.