Starting Anew: Re-Launching Interview Series on Substack!
1st-Hand Stories of Immigrant Founders, VCs, and Tech Leaders Just Moved Here!
This is a recap for new Substack readers of my interview series Entrepreneurship of Life, which just migrated from Medium.com.
Over the past 18 months, I have interviewed 7 entrepreneurs, VCs, and tech business leaders who are 1st- or 2nd-generation US immgrants — while working in investment banking (which means sometimes 100-hour+ weeks; yup, this project takes up a lot of my treasured free time).
Why?
Well, for one, I am a 1st-generation immigrant myself. It is fun to hear interesting stories of others who share my background, especially those among the most enterprising and inspiring individuals I know.
More importantly, I’ve noticed that while unintentional, many people do not fully appreciate the magnitude of impact that immigrants create on innovation, social welfare, and economic progress. I’d like to help change that.
If you’re doubtful, consider this: According to KPCB’s Internet Trends 2017 Report, 60% of the 25 largest US public tech companies were founded (or co-founded) by 1st or 2nd-generation immigrants, and about half of the most highly valued US tech unicorns were founded (or co-founded) by 1st-generation immigrants. Does this surprise you?
If it does, you’re not alone. I was astonished too. In my series inaugural piece, I discussed why immigrants are a nature hotbed of trailblazers, why this deserves more spotlight, and why their stories might interest you if tech, entrepreneurship, or business interests you, whether or not you are an immigrant.
Who do I interview? My guests to date include a Y-Combinator startup founder, venture investors, socialpreneur, corporate venture advisor, and a $2.5B NASDAQ company CFO. They (or their immediate families) came from four continents. They expert in fields ranging anywhere from B2B SaaS to climate tech and digital mental health. Some of them have run a Vietnamese restaurant, led a bankrupt company, done community college, introduced medical insurance to a remote village in Senegal, and designed a giant billboard for the Madame Tussauds in Times Square. And of course, this list is ever growing.
You can find links to some of my recent stories below; subscribe (for free) to get new pieces delivered to your inbox (and Substack app), and check the full list of articles by visiting my home page.
How She Creates an Affordable AI Coach — in Your Hand (Q&A with Dessy Levinson, VC-Turned-Founder and CEO of CRATE.COM)
“Glow Getter”: from Community College Student to $2.5B PublicCo CFO (Q&A with Liyuan Woo, CFO of BeautyHealth (NASDAQ: SKIN))
Can Authenticity Drive Bottom-Line? This Startup Shows You How (Q&A with Alan Zhao, Co-Founder and CTO at YC Startup Warmly,)
Silicon Valley Has a Century-Old “New” Player in Town (Q&A with Kevin Ye, Corporate Venture Advisor and Partner at Mach49)
Trillion-Dollar Technology for Saving Humanity (Q&A with Hara Wang, Climate Tech Investor and Co-Founder of Leading Climate Accelerator Third Derivative)
Build It, and They Will Vote (Q&A with Wen-kuni Ceant, Co-Founder and CEO of Tech-Enabled Social Enterprise Politicking)
Hello there! My name is Keyi Wang. A social science nerd by upbringing, business professional by training, and technology enthusiast by heart, I marvel at the solutions, disruptions, and paradigm shifts created by a combination of technological innovation, business acumen, and effective leadership. The unique DNA of each successful startup and anything they have in common is a topic that perpetually captivates my mind.
I work at Guggenheim Securities advising corporates, governments, and investors in complex financial turnaround matters. Previously, I was an investment analyst with experience in technology investing and portfolio company strategy.
When I am not working, traveling, or spending time with loved ones, I find my sanctuary in books, jogging, journaling, photography, museums, and craft coffee.
I grew up in Chengdu, China (hometown to giant pandas and Mapo Tofu) and received education in Beijing, Philadelphia, and Cambridge, Massachusetts. Currently, I live in New York City with my two feline roomies, Million and Ali.