Jacob Lin
Cambridge, MA

About  /  2026

Jacob Lin

I study Applied Math and Econ at Harvard and play for the Harvard Varsity Squash Team. This past summer, I worked on investing and research at Activant Capital in NYC. My current research is at the intersection of economics and hard tech. I grew up in Vancouver, Canada, and represented Canada as a member of the National Squash Team.

  • AI
  • Robotics
  • Semiconductors
  • Fintech
  • Energy
Fig. 01 Flow field. Particles advected through 3D gradient noise.
§ 01  /  Index
Jacob Lin on court at the Harvard squash facility, racket in hand, walking toward the front wall.
Education
A.B. in Applied Mathematics and Economics, Harvard University
Athletics
Harvard Varsity Squash. 5x Canadian National Champion.
Previously
Investing and Research, Activant Capital
Contact
jacobzihaolin@college.harvard.edu X LinkedIn
§ 02  /  Research

Current projects

  1. 01

    Export Controls on Semiconductor Equipment

    How do available substitutes shape China’s response to restrictions on chipmaking equipment?

    Fall 2026
  2. 02

    How Well Calibrated Are Prediction Markets?

    Comparing market probabilities with outcomes and assessing how much of the gap is noise.

    Fall 2026
  3. 03

    Crusoe’s Strategy for Powering AI Data Centers

    Examining whether the potential benefits of onsite power generation, including faster development and reliable electricity, outweigh the added costs, environmental impacts, and operational risks.

    Fall 2026

Published research

  1. 04

    Old Gears, New Ideas: Automating the machines the world already owns

    With Ross Nayler. Activant Capital Research.

    09-15-2026
§ 03  /  Writing
  1. 01

    The Commercialization Problem for Humanoid Robots

    10-04-2026
  2. 02

    The S-Curve Applied to Robotics

    06-14-2026
  3. 03

    Investing in SaaSapocalypse

    04-27-2026
  4. 04

    Judgment, Taste, and Decisions

    04-14-2026

All posts on Substack