San Bernardino County coroner records have classified the death of former Hack VC partner and platform head Hsin-Ju Chuang as a suicide. Chuang, 37, was found dead on Aug. 24 near a ramp off Interstate 15 in the Mojave Desert region of California.

California Highway Patrol officers responded that day to a report involving a vehicle southbound on Interstate 15 south of Field Road in Harvard, California. Chuang was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy later determined the cause of death, updating earlier reports that had left the classification open while the investigation proceeded.

Timeline Leading to the Discovery

On Aug. 23, one day before she was found, Chuang publicly stated that she had rejected a settlement proposal from Hack VC and intended to release evidence related to her tenure at the firm on Aug. 26. In earlier statements she alleged that she had been required to continue working during a medical emergency and had been warned she could face blacklisting if she resigned before completing an event. She also described problems with health insurance after her departure and pressure during subsequent legal discussions.

Chuang further said she had attempted suicide after what she characterized as mistreatment while experiencing a serious medical emergency. The precise connection, if any, between those prior public claims and the circumstances of her death has not been established by authorities.

Professional Background

Chuang’s career spanned venture capital and blockchain ecosystem roles. She founded Dystopia Labs and previously held leadership positions that included head of growth at Stellar and Solana. She joined Hack VC in 2021 as a venture partner and later advanced to partner and head of platform in 2025.

Firm Response and Ongoing Inquiry

Hack VC co-founder and managing partner Alexander Pack said the firm was shocked and saddened by Chuang’s death and extended condolences to her family, friends and those close to her. Pack stated that the firm had not spoken directly with Chuang for more than 10 months, was not aware of the circumstances surrounding her death and had no further information. The firm indicated it held a substantially different understanding of the situation and declined to discuss details publicly out of respect for her privacy.

The California Highway Patrol investigation into the circumstances of the death remains open. No additional verified details from the coroner process or further statements from parties close to Chuang have been released.