Jonas Simanavicius is a technology entrepreneur and the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Synternet, a blockchain technology company focused on providing modular, interoperable data infrastructure solutions for Web3. ^[2]

Education

Simanavicius graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a BEng in Software Engineering with Management in 2013. ^[3]

Career

Simanavicius began his career in 2011 as a summer analyst in equity derivatives pricing technology at the Royal Bank of Scotland in London, where he contributed as an application developer using technologies such as Java, Android SDK, C#, and .NET. In 2012, he worked as a summer analyst at JPMorgan Chase, focusing on application development in C# and .NET for fixed income and securitized products. Later that year, he joined Approar Ltd. in Edinburgh as a mobile application developer and consultant, where he developed business-focused Android applications and advised on technical matters.

In early 2013, he continued in Edinburgh as a mobile application developer and consultant at Techsnapp Ltd., before moving to JPMorgan Chase in London in September 2013. There, he held roles as a technology analyst and associate applications developer for nearly three years, contributing to various internal systems and platforms.

In 2016, Simanavicius co-founded Clouder, serving as chief technology officer until 2018, focusing on product development and technology leadership. In 2017, he briefly worked as a lead instructor at Turing Society in Lithuania, teaching programming and technical fundamentals. Later that year, he became a partner at Synternet (formerly Syntropy), where he has worked on developing a decentralized internet infrastructure to enhance data security and performance across distributed systems.

Since January 2020, he has also been an advisor at Turing College in Lithuania, contributing to educational and technology initiatives. ^[4]

Interviews

From J.P. Morgan to Synternet

In an interview with Hackernoon, Simanavicius discussed his transition from J.P. Morgan to crypto and blockchain space as well as his project, Synternet: ^[1]

“My transition from J.P. Morgan to co-founding Synternet was driven by a combination of deep financial expertise and a keen interest in technology. During my three years at J.P. Morgan as an Associate Applications Developer, I developed a strong foundation in both domains, which prepared me for my role as a CTO.

Synternet originated in Lithuania as a startup aimed at addressing the inefficiencies of the existing internet infrastructure, which was limiting user experiences. Together with friends, we envisioned a new framework that would be more secure, programmable, and user-centric. By mid-2023, we shifted our focus to the blockchain and Web3 ecosystems, particularly to enhance data access, leveraging our tech expertise to meet increasing market demands. Our work in the Cosmos ecosystem and in AI, DePIN, and DeFi has positioned us as key players. As we prepare for our mainnet launch, there's significant interest from various businesses eager to join Synternet.”

When asked about Synternet’s recent rebranding, he responded: ^[1]

“The decision to transition to a new brand identity as Synternet was driven by a need to better reflect our evolving vision and strategic goals. Our core mission has expanded beyond our initial focus, evolving to address broader, more impactful challenges across the Web3 and blockchain landscapes. We recognized that the future of the internet and Web3 hinges on permissionless, interoperable data. This realization prompted us to redefine our brand to align more closely with the role we aspire to play in this future. Synternet is not just a name but a statement of our commitment to providing a modular, interoperable data infrastructure that spans all major blockchain networks.

This new brand identity aligns perfectly with our strategic objectives by emphasizing our commitment to openness, accessibility, and innovation. It serves as a foundation for our efforts to enable more robust and versatile data interactions across the ecosystem, thereby fostering a more connected and efficient digital world. By doing so, we aim to empower developers, businesses, and end-users with the tools they need to create novel solutions that leverage the full potential of decentralized data.”

Leading a Startup

On the Happy Developer Podcast, Simanavičius discussed his journey as an entrepreneur and engineer in the blockchain space, highlighting the challenges and routines of his daily life. He explained his move from Silicon Valley to Los Angeles, emphasizing his business's desire for a better community and atmosphere. Simanavičius shared insights into his daily schedule, which involved early morning calls with European teams and personal and work time in the U.S. time zone. He mentioned the importance of maintaining a balance between work and family life, where he prioritized quality time with his partner despite a busy lifestyle. He also reflected on his hobbies, such as music creation and sim racing, which he incorporated into his routine to manage stress and maintain mental clarity. Ultimately, he acknowledged the necessity of blending work with personal interests to thrive in the entrepreneurial space while remaining productive and engaged. ^[5]

About Synternet

On the Crypto Coin Show, Simanavicius discussed his background in software engineering and finance, which laid the groundwork for the creation of Syntropy. Initially starting as a content delivery network, the team identified core internet problems that led them to develop innovative internet routing technology. Simanavicius described Syntropy as a distributed layer utilizing blockchain technology to enhance internet performance and security, likening it to Waze for the internet. The interview highlighted how Syntropy aims to provide default encryption for all data transmissions and mitigate outages by optimizing routing. He noted the challenges of creating a decentralized and efficient internet, emphasizing the need for community and technological support. Syntropy's pre-launch involved extensive research and development, yielding significant potential for optimization across internet pathways. The conversation also touched on their plans for developer and business adoption and the introduction of decentralized services aimed at improving the connectivity landscape for decentralized applications. ^[6]

A Better Internet

On the Brave New Coin podcast, host Andy Pickering interviewed Simanavicius, who discussed how Syntropy aimed to reshape the public internet into a more secure and user-centric platform. Simanavicius shared his background in technology and finance, explaining his journey into the cryptocurrency space, which eventually led him to co-found Syntropy. He described the current shortcomings of the internet, specifically its lack of security, privacy, and a unified governance structure, which can compromise user experience and trust. Syntropy proposed a solution to these issues by creating a decentralized connectivity layer that prioritizes users and enables more efficient data routing. The conversation explored future use cases for this technology, such as the automation of communications between devices and applications, enhancing internet reliability and security. Simanavicius also highlighted practical applications of Syntropy's technology, including partnerships with major cloud providers like Oracle and Microsoft to optimize data traffic and secure connections, citing the example of improving Minecraft server performance to demonstrate their capabilities. ^[7]