About
Tim Cherkasov is co-founder and CEO of Trace. He previously worked as a product manager at Copper, a digital asset custodian where he developed institutional solutions, and has worked in fintech roles including as a data scientist at hedge funds and startups. He has founded multiple companies in retail technology, travel, and web3 since his teens.
Likely email· guessed from name + firm domain, not firm-published
- t•••@trace.soreveal75% confident
Founder at TraceYC S25
Intro paths
YC
Tim went through Y Combinator (Summer 2025) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
GP
Their group partner at YC was Ankit Gupta, General Partner at Y Combinator — the partner who ran Trace's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗
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In turn, Tim can intro founders to Trace's investors below.
Trace's investors · 14
Chainlinksince 2026Chainlink labssince 2026Coinbase VenturesStamford · $100K – $10M checks · since 2026CoinFundNew York · $6M – $10M checks · since 2026Goodwater CapitalBurlingame · $5M – $50M checks · since 2026Haun VenturesSilicon Valley · $1M – $100M checks · since 2026HOF CapitalNew York · $25K – $15M checks · since 2026Jump CapitalChicago · since 2026Jump CryptoChicago · $500K – $15M checks · since 2026Paxossince 2026Transpose Platform ManagementHouston · since 2026WefunderSan Francisco · since 2026Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2025Zeno VenturesGeneva · since 2026
Co-founders at Trace
AR
Artur RomanovFounder
Experience
- Trace (YC S25)Co-Founder & CEOcurrent2025 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
- ClustrCo-Founder & CEO2023 — 2025Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- 500 GlobalAlumni2024
- Copper.coEnterprise Product Manager2022 — 2023Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- Nickel Digital Asset ManagementProduct Specialist2020 — 2022London, United Kingdom
- Mindful StoreCo-Founder & COO2018 — 2019Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom
- Say Hi To WorldCo-Founder & COO2017 — 2018London Area, United Kingdom
Skills & more
EntrepreneurshipStartups12Sustainable Tourism17Account Management12Online Marketplace9Sales2Legal Compliance2Software Development2Investor Relations2Business Development1Operations Management1Sales Presentations1
+12 more
Blockchain ArchitectureAgile Project ManagementWorkshopsCryptocurrencyMarket AnalysisStatistical ModelingProduct DevelopmentBusiness AnalyticsEnterprise SoftwareBlockchainPythonMicrosoft OfficeLanguages English · Italian · Russian
From Tim's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Tim Cherkasov?
- Tim Cherkasov is co-founder and CEO of Trace. He previously worked as a product manager at Copper, a digital asset custodian where he developed institutional solutions, and has worked in fintech roles including as a data scientist at hedge funds and startups. He has founded multiple companies in retail technology, travel, and web3 since his teens.
- Where does Tim Cherkasov work?
- Tim Cherkasov is Founder of Trace.
- What companies did Tim Cherkasov found?
- Tim Cherkasov founded Trace.
- Where did Tim Cherkasov go to school?
- Tim Cherkasov studied at Y Combinator (S25); UCL (MSc Business Analytics); The University of Manchester (BSc Mathematics with Financial Mathematics).
Founder mafias
Y Combinator mafia8,773
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Sam AltmanPresidentFounded Tools for Humanity +3Jessica LivingstonCo-founderFounded Y CombinatorAlexis OhanianYC Summer 2005Founded RedditFred EhrsamYC Summer 2012Founded Nudge +1Matt HuangYC Winter 2011Founded HotspotsTrae StephensYC Winter 2022Founded Pursuit +1
+ 8,766 more
Y Combinator mafia4,716
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Ryan SheaEntrepreneurshipFounded StacksTarek MansourFounded KalshiSuhail DoshiEating beans & riceFounded Playground +1Subomi OluwalanaW22Founded ConvoyDarius "Bubs" MonsefS19Founded Sightbox +3Matthew ScholzFounded Oisin Biotechnologies +3
+ 4,709 more
UCL mafia117
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Demis HassabisPhDFounded Google Deepmind +2Nessan BerminghamDoctor of Philosophy - PhDFounded Korro Bio +2Gustavo GorensteinMaster of Science (M.Sc.)Founded bxblue +1Radu MaziluBachelor of Science (BSc)Founded PermitPortal +1Nodar DaneliyaFounded Shuttle +1Nicolas HourcardCorporate FinanceFounded QuestDB +1
+ 110 more
500 Global mafia67
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Melanie Perkins500 Global 2012Founded CanvaCliff Obrecht500 Global 2012Founded CanvaCameron Adams500 Global 2012Founded CanvaEoghan McCabeGA 3 2011Founded FinDes TraynorGA 3 2011Founded FinHarry GrunerGA 19Founded Hilos +2
+ 60 more
The University of Manchester mafia40
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Pedro SicilianoExchange ProgramFounded Teachy +1Andy LeaverMEng/BScFounded ArqitSimon SegarsMScFounded ArmRajiv DatarMastersFounded Chromatan, Inc.Michael LiuUoT Outbound Exchange ProgramFounded Erdos VenturesBen PetersMaster of Advanced Computer ScienceFounded Bitso
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+ 33 more
Same school
Also attended Y Combinator2,000
Tarek MansourCo-founder & CEO of KalshiSuhail DoshiFounder of Mixpanel; founder of ParticleSubomi OluwalanaCo-founder & CEO of ConvoyMaroof AhmedFounder at Octopus VenturesJustin SwartPartner at Bitkraft Esports VenturesCollin WallaceGeneral Partner at Lobby Capital
+ 1,994 more
Also attended UCL396
Demis HassabisCo-founder & CEO of Google DeepMindAndré DuboisInvestor at Index VenturesFrédérique DameInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Jonas VetterleInvestor at Moonfire VenturesMarie FerriInvestor at DaphniElena PantaziPartner & Head of Platform at Northzone
+ 390 more
Also attended The University of Manchester166
Joel NoyceInvestor at Moonfire VenturesJames BraithwaiteFinancial Controller at NorthzoneFreya Svedberg-KeatingInvestor at MedicxiAndy LeaverOperating Partner at Notion CapitalSimon SegarsExecutive Advisor at Black Opal VenturesHonor de WintonExecutive Assistant at Giant Ventures Global Llp
+ 160 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Trace (YC S25)1
Also worked at Clustr1
Also worked at 500 Global145
Kaz TeradaVenture Advisor at Monta Vista CapitalChristal NgAssociate at Golden Gate VenturesDemi ObayomiPrincipal at Sapphire VenturesGbenga AjayiPartner, Head of Africa and Middle East at QED InvestorsJustin LedbetterChief Operating Officer, Marlan Space at Cortado VenturesJessica KohSenior Executive Director, Investment at Vertex Ventures Sea Management Pte. Ltd.
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+ 139 more
Also worked at Copper.co8
Julian JohnsonOperating Partner at AlbionVCAlexander RossGeneral Partner & Head of New York at Illuminate FinancialRezso SzaboGeneral Partner & Head of London at Illuminate FinancialAshley MooreHilbert Capital Team at Hilbert GroupOliver RichardsGeneral Partner at MMC VenturesRemus BrettGeneral Partner at Phoenix Court
+ 2 more