Stanford Math PhD Launches AI Quantitative Finance Startup, Gains Attention

Stanford University's young mathematics doctoral graduate, Tang Yichao, is seeking to raise $50 million for her startup, which aims to revolutionize quantitative finance through AI. Born and raised in Guangdong, China, Tang completed her dual degrees in mathematics and physics at Stanford University in just three years. During her academic tenure, she earned the prestigious Alice T. Schafer Prize from the Association for Women in Mathematics, an annual award given to one outstanding female mathematics student in the United States. She then received the 2023 Frank and Brennie Morgan Prize for her groundbreaking research, which is jointly awarded by the American Mathematical Society, the Mathematical Association of America, and the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. After graduating from Stanford, Tang secured a scholarship to study theoretical mathematics at King’s College London. She later enrolled in both a mathematics doctoral program and a law degree at Harvard University, demonstrating her ability to bridge different fields of study. This interdisciplinary background provides Axiom, her startup, with a unique advantage, allowing her to approach the integration of AI and mathematics from multiple perspectives. "I have always been a researcher," Tang stated. "My goal is to solve real-world technological challenges." Currently, the competition in the field of mathematical AI is heating up. In 2023, Vlad Tenev, the CEO of Robinhood, founded Harmonic, another startup that focuses on similar applications in the financial market. By 2024, Harmonic had raised $75 million from various investors, achieving a valuation of $325 million. The company also claims to be building models that can address complex mathematical problems. Simultaneously, large tech companies are making significant strides in this domain. OpenAI’s o4-mini model recently outperformed human mathematicians in FrontierMath evaluations, highlighting the immense potential of AI in advanced mathematics. This achievement not only demonstrates AI's capabilities in tackling sophisticated mathematical questions but also underscores the growing demand for specialized mathematical AI systems in the market. In the context of the financial industry, an AI system capable of rigorous mathematical proofs and calculations holds substantial practical value. Quantitative trading, risk assessment, and asset pricing all require fast and precise mathematical computations. If Axiom successfully develops an AI system that can genuinely understand and generate mathematical logic and formal proofs, it could bring about significant changes in how the finance sector operates. However, Axiom has yet to release specific products or solidify its team structure. While other large tech companies and startups are vying for dominance in the development of mathematical AI, it remains unclear whether Axiom will find its unique niche and stand out in this competitive landscape. References: 1. https://www.theinformation.com/articles/stanford-math-phds-ai-startup-targets-300-million-valuation?rc=qjiy7u 2. https://alum.mit.edu/slice/first-generation-grad-excels-math-and-law 3. https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnwerner/2025/04/24/a-discovery-every-day-what-does-superintelligence-actually-look-like/ Editor: He Longyang