Hsin-Ju Chuang, former Hack VC partner, confirmed dead by suicide

A coroner in San Bernardino County, California, has confirmed that Hsin-Ju Chuang, a 37-year-old former partner at cryptocurrency venture capital firm Hack VC, died by suicide. Her body was discovered on August 24 inside a vehicle on Interstate 15 near the Harvard area, east of Barstow.

Prior to her death, Chuang had engaged in a public dispute with Hack VC on social media. On August 23, she alleged that the firm imposed extreme working conditions, claiming she worked 78 to 84 hours per week. She stated these conditions led to severe insomnia and thyroid disease. Chuang also claimed she refused a settlement agreement because it required her to remain silent about her experiences, and she intended to release evidence regarding her tenure at the company.

Hack VC responded to the allegations by stating there were “significant differences” in the understanding of the events, though the company later deleted its statement to avoid increasing negative attention. Alexander Pack, co-founder and managing partner of Hack VC, expressed shock and grief regarding her passing, noting the company had not been in direct contact with her for over ten months.