About
Eli Dourado leads strategic investments at the Astera Institute. He previously held roles at the Abundance Institute, the Center for Growth and Opportunity, Boom Supersonic, and the Mercatus Center, and has worked on the cargo airship industry and supersonic aviation standards at ICAO. He holds a PhD in economics from George Mason University and has written for the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.
Experience
- Astera InstituteHead of Strategic Investmentscurrent2025 — presentEmeryville, California, United States
- Abundance InstituteChief Economist2024 — 2025Washington DC-Baltimore Area
- The Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State UniversitySenior Research Fellow2020 — 2024Washington DC-Baltimore Area
- Boom SupersonicHead of Global Policy and Communications2017 — 2019Washington DC-Baltimore Area
- Mercatus Center at George Mason UniversitySenior Research Fellow2016 — 2017Arlington, VA
- Mercatus Center at George Mason UniversityDirector, Technology Policy Program2014 — 2017Arlington, VA
- Mercatus Center at George Mason UniversityResearch Fellow2012 — 2016Arlington, VA
- Bureau of Economic AnalysisEconomist2004 — 2006Washington, DC
- U.S. House of RepresentativesLegislative Staff - Rep. Wally Herger2002Washington, DC
Skills & more
EconomicsPublic PolicyPolicy AnalysisInternational RelationsStrategic CommunicationsData AnalysisMacroeconomicsIntellectual PropertyPatentsEconometricsStatisticsQuantitative Analytics
+11 more
Statistical ModelingQualitative ResearchTechnology PolicyInternet GovernanceDevelopment EconomicsMicroeconomicsCryptocurrencyStataRAerospace PolicyTechnologyLanguages English · Portuguese
From Eli's professional profile.
Colleagues at Astera Institute
Anika Gupta
COO – Foundation at Astera Institute
Dileep George
Head of AI Research at Astera Institute
Doris Tsao
Chief Scientist – Neuro at Astera Institute
Jed McCaleb
Investor at Pantera Capital
Prachee Avasthi
Head of Open Science at Astera Institute
Rebecca (Becky) Pferdehirt
Partner at Andreessen Horowitz
Seemay Chou
Co-Founder & President – Foundation at Astera Institute
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Eli Dourado?
- Eli Dourado leads strategic investments at the Astera Institute. He previously held roles at the Abundance Institute, the Center for Growth and Opportunity, Boom Supersonic, and the Mercatus Center, and has worked on the cargo airship industry and supersonic aviation standards at ICAO. He holds a PhD in economics from George Mason University and has written for the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.
- Where does Eli Dourado work?
- Eli Dourado is Head of Strategic Investments at Astera Institute.
- Where did Eli Dourado go to school?
- Eli Dourado studied at George Mason University (PhD, Economics); Furman University (BA, Economics).
Same school
Also attended George Mason University35
Karan MehandruManaging Director at Madrona Venture GroupBeau HigginsVP (OPlign), Senior Client Partner (The Military Veteran) at Context VenturesMuna AbuSulaymanFounder & Managing Partner at Transform Capital ManagementVeronica DaiglePresident, National Security Practice at Red Cell IncubationJeff ShermanCo-Founder and CTO, Zephyr AI at Red Cell IncubationJohn MalloyGeneral Partner at BlueRun Ventures
+ 29 more
Also attended Furman University9
Ford BlakelyOperating Partner at Ankona CapitalDavid TraylorSenior Managing Director at Golden EagleAndrew DietrichVice President, Fund Accounting at Harbert Growth PartnersTJ FlemingAssociate at DeepWork CapitalMichael LettaGeneral Partner, COO at Human VenturesGinger RothrockInvestor at HG Ventures
+ 3 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Abundance Institute3
Also worked at Boom Supersonic12
Zachary BogueCo-Founder and Managing Partner at DCVC (Data Collective)Tekedra MawakanaCo-CEO of WaymoSatbirOperating Partner at FUSEBlake SchollVenture Partner at Prime Movers LabMihir ShahCEO, JLL Technologies at JLL Spark Global VenturesCathryn ChenFounder & CEO at MarketX Ventures
+ 6 more
Also worked at Mercatus Center at George Mason University10
Will DuftonPartner at Giant Ventures Global LlpSalen ChuriGeneral Partner at Trust VenturesOliver HsuPartner at Andreessen HorowitzValentina MilanovaAssociate at Founders FactoryDaniel FrancisFounder at Abel PoliceIvan ZhangFounder at Pinnacle
+ 4 more
Also worked at U.S. House of Representatives109
Daniela AmodeiCo-founder & President of AnthropicMounisha AnumoluInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Will McKelveyPrincipal at Lerer HippeauLeslie StolperInvestor at IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)Jim BridenstineManaging Partner, Artemis Group at Cortado VenturesGabe ShermanPresident, Artemis Group at Cortado Ventures
+ 103 more