Karel Janeček
Karel Janeček | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 26, 1973 Plzeň, Czech Republic |
| Occupation(s) | Mathematician, business leader, anti-corruption activist |
| Known for | D21 – Janeček method voting system, Prezident 21 digital game |
Karel Janeček (born 26 July 1973) is a Czech mathematician, business leader, anti-corruption activist, and the innovator behind the D21 – Janeček method voting system as well as the digital game Prezident 21.
Early life and education
Janeček was born in Plzeň. He earned his degree from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at Charles University in Prague, focusing on probability and mathematical statistics. Additionally, he obtained an MBA in finance from Bradley University, located in Peoria, Illinois, US, and completed a PhD in mathematical finance at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US.
Academia
Between 2007 and 2013, Janeček served as a lecturer at Charles University’s Faculty of Mathematics and Physics in Prague, where he specialized in optimal control within the field of mathematical finance. His scholarly contributions include several notable papers on applied stochastic calculus, such as "Optimal investment with high-watermark performance fee" (SIAM Journal on Control and Optimization, 2012) and "Futures trading with transaction costs" (Illinois Journal of Mathematics, 2010).
Business
From 1998 to 2000, Janeček was employed as a mathematical analyst at the hedge fund Market Research Ltd. Later, between 2004 and 2005, he conducted research at the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Drawing from this background, he established RSJ Algorithmic Trading, a company focused on developing algorithmic trading strategies.
Anti-corruption campaign
In 2013, amid numerous corruption scandals confronting the Czech government, Janeček responded to President Václav Klaus’s controversial amnesty that shielded individuals accused of corruption by financing online videos and print advertisements encouraging public engagement. This initiative spurred a petition demanding Klaus’s accountability published on the Czech "High Treason" website. The campaign gained backing from 28 Senators who called for the Constitutional Court to initiate high treason proceedings against Klaus. Although the Supreme Court eventually declined to prosecute Klaus, Janeček’s activism underscored his dedication to transparency and fighting corruption.
Political reform
Janeček introduced an innovative electoral model in 2012 that incorporated a minus vote feature—enabling voters to oppose candidates—as part of his Positive Evolution initiative. By May 2013, he developed the D21 – Janeček method, which aims to improve election results by allowing voters to cast multiple votes—double the number of seats available—with the option to allocate minus votes. For instance, during elections for the Chamber of Deputies in two-seat districts, voters could cast four votes including one negative vote. This approach was notably implemented in 2016 within New York City’s largest participatory budgeting effort in North America, where around 67,000 participants across 28 districts distributed $38 million toward local development projects.
Sponsorship
Founded in 2010 and rebranded as the Neuron Fund for Support of Science in 2013, the Karel Janeček Benevolent Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering philanthropic contributions to scientific research within the Czech Republic. To date, Neuron has allocated grants totaling over 13 million Czech crowns to support a range of scientific initiatives.
Gambling
During the 1990s, Janeček created the "Statistical Blackjack Analyzer," a simulation tool designed to enhance advantage play in Blackjack, drawing on his firsthand casino experience. This software is widely acknowledged as the benchmark among gambling analysts. He has also provided consultancy services to the casino gaming sector, including using his software to evaluate the Blackjack Switch game prior to its market introduction.
In collaboration with specialists such as Brett Harris and Mike Canjar, Janeček made significant contributions to optimal betting theory and illustrated methods for calculating true counts in unbalanced Blackjack counting systems. His research findings have been regularly featured on gambling-focused platforms like Stanford Wong's BJ21.com.
Janeček promotes the concept of managing advantage play with the same discipline and strategy applied in financial investments.
Presidential bid
On 21 January 2022, Janeček declared his intention to run in the 2023 Czech presidential election. He initially submitted 73,000 signatures; however, after sample verification, only 48,000 were deemed valid, falling short of the required number. Although subsequent court rulings confirmed additional signatures, he remained 80 signatures below the qualifying threshold. Janeček appealed this decision to the Supreme Administrative Court of the Czech Republic, which ultimately dismissed his complaint on 13 December 2022. Following this outcome, he publicly supported Petr Pavel in both rounds of the election. On 3 February 2023, Janeček lodged a further appeal with the Supreme Administrative Court concerning procedural aspects of the election.
Personal life
Janeček has two daughters from his first marriage with Michaela and a son from his second marriage to Mariem. Since May 2017, he has been in a relationship with Lilia Khousnoutdinova, with whom he shares a daughter and a son. The couple held a Buddhist wedding ceremony in Bhutan in 2017 and later formalized their marriage legally in Prague on 21 December 2021.
See also
External links
- Personal blog (in Czech)
- "Anti-corruption campaigner ‘targeted’ by Prague underworld", Česká Pozice, 31 January 2012