General Application

Protogon Research builds AI models with a deep understanding of the world, monetizing them through proprietary trading. Founded and led by serial entrepreneur Rafael Cosman—co-founder of Archblock and the TrueFi DeFi protocol—Protogon is charting a path toward superintelligence.

Why Trading?

Focusing on trading provides several key advantages:

• Proprietary models and datasets – This helps us avoid the race-to-the-bottom faced by many other AI companies.
• Fast innovation cycle – Technological advancements directly translate into increased revenue, allowing us to rapidly test and implement improvements.
• Pure focus on AI development – With no need for sales, marketing, or customer support, we can concentrate on building groundbreaking systems.
• True understanding, not imitation – We create AI that deeply understands the world, rather than just replicating human behavior or generating superficial outputs.

We believe trading is a powerful testbed for developing highly intelligent AI systems, offering unique advantages over other approaches. Backed by top VCs, our highly technical team is on a mission to build the most transformative invention of the 21st century.

Unlike traditional quant funds, our goal isnt to focus on short-term profits but to build the long-term success of our AI technology. While we leverage AI for trading, everything—from our investors to our culture—is aligned with this vision of lasting impact. Moreover, were not just another AI company layering a thin wrapper over existing technologies or burning through resources on models that add little value. Our work is original, proprietary, and defensible.

We are a small, dynamic team of eight currently based in Redwood City, CA, and we are seeking talented people to help us build impactful technology and drive innovation. We work primarily in person and welcome candidates based in the Bay Area or San Diego, with the expectation that this person will relocate to the Greater San Diego Area when our headquarters moves in mid-2026.

Why Protogon Research?

Pioneering Spirit: Be part of a select team that's pushing the boundaries of AI applications. 

Leadership: Work directly under the guidance of industry trailblazers. Rafael Cosman's track record of successful ventures promises a learning curve steeped in real-world challenges and triumphs.

Growth Stage: Join us at a critical juncture as we scale our start-up, with highly capable and skilled individuals.

What do we Value?

• Execution - We take ownership, move fast, and deliver real results.
• Long-Term Thinking - We think strategically, operate sustainably, and collaborate for enduring success.
• Ambition - We set audacious goals, innovate boldly, and never settle for less than excellence.
• Ownership - We step up, take initiative, and drive solutions.

Why are we Looking?

We're always looking for good people who might be a great fit with our culture, and who value the things we think are important. If that's you, we'd love to hear from you.