Erick Watson
Technology Executive | Entrepreneur | Investor
Overview
Erick Watson is a Managing Director at SproutVest and seasoned technology executive with 15+ years of experience commercializing emerging technologies. As former Co-Founder & CEO of Randamu and product leader at Google, Microsoft, and Protocol Labs, Erick specializes in transforming complex research and early-stage innovations into market-ready products, scalable businesses, and investable opportunities.
His expertise spans artificial intelligence, blockchain infrastructure, decentralized finance, cryptography, and SaaS product strategy—with a proven track record of bridging the gap between frontier research and commercial adoption.
Professional Experience
Current Roles
Managing Director, SproutVest (2024–Present)
- Fractional CPO and venture strategy advisor for portfolio companies
- Partner with founders at the intersection of technology, markets, and human behavior
- Focus areas: AI, DeSci (Decentralized Science), PropTech, and Web3 infrastructure
- Guide companies from Seed through Series C in product strategy, GTM, and capital formation
Entrepreneur in Residence, Protocol Labs (2023–Present)
- Strategic advisor for Protocol Labs Venture Studio (PLVS)
- Collaborate on open-source crypto infrastructure projects
- Steward League of Entropy / drand ecosystem
Previous Leadership
Co-Founder & CEO, Randamu (2021–2024)
- Led spin-out from Protocol Labs with multi-million-dollar funding
- Built and launched dcipher.network—threshold cryptography infrastructure for decentralized systems
- Evolved academic research into production-grade technology serving Web3 applications
- Assembled distributed team across 3 continents
- Established partnerships with Filecoin Foundation, Cosmos ecosystem, and major DeFi protocols
Product Leader, Google (2017–2020)
- Led product strategy for enterprise cloud solutions
- Drove adoption of AI/ML capabilities for Fortune 500 customers
- Managed cross-functional teams of 20+ engineers, designers, and data scientists
- Delivered products generating significant annual recurring revenue
Product Manager, Microsoft (2014–2017)
- Contributed to Azure cloud platform development
- Focused on developer tools and enterprise integration
- Shipped features used by millions of developers globally
Areas of Expertise
Technology & Product
- Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
- Blockchain & Distributed Systems
- Threshold Cryptography & Zero-Knowledge Proofs
- Decentralized Finance (DeFi)
- SaaS Product Strategy & GTM
- Cloud Infrastructure & Developer Tools
Business & Strategy
- Product-Market Fit Discovery
- Go-to-Market Strategy
- Fundraising & Investor Relations
- Technology Due Diligence
- Team Building & Leadership
- Open-Source Ecosystem Development
Investment & Advisory Focus
Through SproutVest and multiple angel syndicates, Erick mentors, backs, and advises founders building the future across:
- AI & Machine Learning: Applied AI, LLMs, AI infrastructure
- Blockchain & Web3: DeFi protocols, infrastructure, developer tools
- Decentralized Science (DeSci): Research funding, IP-NFTs, open science
- SaaS & Enterprise: B2B software, developer platforms, data infrastructure
- Emerging Tech: Quantum-safe cryptography, privacy-preserving computation
Investment Philosophy: Partner with technical founders turning frontier research into defensible businesses with clear paths to revenue and impact.
Notable Projects & Contributions
dcipher.network
- First production implementation of distributed threshold cryptography for Web3
- Enables secure randomness and encryption for blockchain applications
- Live on multiple networks including Cosmos, Filecoin, and Ethereum L2s
League of Entropy
- Public randomness beacon serving 100+ applications
- Open-source infrastructure for verifiable randomness
- Collaboration with Cloudflare, EPFL, and Protocol Labs
Open Source Contributions
- Core contributor to drand (distributed randomness beacon)
- Advisor to multiple Web3 infrastructure projects
- Speaker at technical conferences on cryptography and decentralized systems
Speaking & Thought Leadership
Erick is a frequent speaker at technology and industry conferences, covering topics including:
- Product strategy for emerging technologies
- Commercializing blockchain and cryptography research
- Building in Web3 and decentralized ecosystems
- AI and the future of product development
- Venture capital and technology investing
Recent Speaking Engagements:
- Consensus 2025 (Toronto)
- Token2049 (Singapore)
- Permissionless IV (Salt Lake City)
- Various university guest lectures and industry panels
See the Press and Events sections for media appearances and speaking history.
Education & Background
- Computer Science & Economics background with focus on distributed systems
- Continuous learner in cryptography, AI/ML, and economic mechanism design
- Active participant in academic-industry collaborations
Engagement Models
For Startups & Founders
- Fractional CPO / Head of Product (Seed–Series C)
- Strategic Advisor / Board Member
- Go-to-Market & Fundraising Support
- Technical Due Diligence for Investors
For Investors & Family Offices
- Venture Partner / Entrepreneur-in-Residence
- Technology & Market Due Diligence
- Portfolio Company Support
- Deal Flow & Co-Investment Opportunities
For Established Companies
- Innovation Strategy & R&D Commercialization
- Technology Partnerships & Ecosystem Development
- Product Transformation & Digital Strategy
Recent Collaborations
- Protocol Labs Venture Studio (PLVS): Strategic advisor and EIR
- League of Entropy / Filecoin Foundation: Ecosystem stewardship
- SproutVest Portfolio: Active advisor to 10+ companies across AI, DeSci, and PropTech
- Academic Partnerships: Collaborations with research institutions on technology transfer
Get in Touch
If you’re scaling an innovation from lab to market—or evaluating high-tech investments—Erick can help bridge the gap between research, product, and commercial success.
Contact:
- Email: hello(at)sproutvest.com
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/erickwatson
- Twitter/X: @SproutVest
Availability:
- Fractional engagements (10-20 hours/month)
- Strategic advisory (quarterly or project-based)
- Speaking engagements
- Angel investing & syndicate co-investment
Professional Philosophy
“The best products emerge at the intersection of deep technology, market understanding, and human needs. My work focuses on finding that intersection—and building the bridges that turn possibility into reality.”
Erick believes in:
- Technology as enabler, not end goal
- Open collaboration over closed competition
- Long-term value creation over short-term extraction
- Empowering founders to build sustainable, impactful businesses
Last updated: November 2025