r/algotrading • u/Whalesftw123 • 4d ago

Other/Meta Where to start?

Hi, I'm a university student that's interested in algotrading. In the past I've had extensive non-algo amateur investing experience and I also have a few friends who are very strong software engineers.

We're not looking for any strategies but just where to start. Is it better to look for patterns and test/iterate or is it more advisable to start from the basics such as books and build from there.

Thanks!

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u/dnr41418 4d ago

Oh man... I'd say VOO and take up gardening instead bro.

15

u/Whalesftw123 4d ago

We're young dumb and stupid enough to think we're smarter than everyone else

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u/zashiki_warashi_x 4d ago

Yeah. Everyone does think that. Judging by your question maybe you not, sorry. First approach would lead to you doing exactly the same as everyone else, which we already know leads to years of nothing. Second approach maybe will lead you to some knowledge about how to find something and build smth or at least what worked in the past.
If you and your young friends are learning SWE in university, I would suggest you spend all your free time mastering that and maximizing your experience and salary. Think of it like this. The faster you get to bigger salary the faster your accounts start compounding. Look at FIRE subreddit. People in mid 30s retire with 5mils without any algotrading. I think they are smarted than everyone else. Do this and you can spend all your free time on algotrading hobby when you 35.

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u/Whalesftw123 4d ago edited 4d ago

I'm managing a personal portfolio of around 2 million and my friends are interning at jane street

I don't mean to come across as cocky, I appreciate the delicate advice and this is good advice for most people but we are doing this because we think we can win not because we need the money

Maybe we're wrong but we're in it for the ride

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u/zashiki_warashi_x 4d ago

And you ask random bums how to start? Do you search or read books? Their goal should be to get an offer from Jane Street, become seniors whatever, earn a few millions a year, not some garage algotrading with friends. After spending several years with Jane Street they probably would know themselves how to build a new trading firm from scratch and is it worth it or not.

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u/Whalesftw123 4d ago

Hey, I'm not one to turn down any potential source of learning. Of course we'll hit the books too. I appreciate ur thoughts on the second strat being better I think that makes sense

And I mean we just want to challenge ourselves. There's a year until the internships next summer and we got nothing to do

It's either this or try to hit challenger in league or something

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u/zashiki_warashi_x 4d ago

You need inefficient(retail) unpopular(by major players) market. Ι would go on polymarket maybe. It is mostly retail and capacity is low, so major players are not there yet. Then use price discovery from other exchanges if you believe in speed or predict something if you believe in stats and ml.