Steve Liu

Gotta respect Steve Liu, this guy’s a straight-up powerhouse. He’s a YC batch S21 founder, the dude crushed it with Deed, a platform that makes workplace giving and employee involvement super easy. Basically, he’s all about making work better for people, but his story is way deeper than that.

Before jumping into startups, Steve spent 17 years deep in finance. He was at some big names like Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Lehman Brothers, Jefferies, you name it. He was creating new products, trading in new markets, and raking in over $120 million in revenue. The dude built a boutique investment bank from scratch after the financial crisis, talk about resilience and hustle. That’s the kind of guy who’s not just riding the wave, he’s the one making the damn waves.

He’s got a solid academic background too, MS in Management Science & Engineering, and a BA in Economics from Stanford. So, the brains are definitely there, but what’s crazy is how he took all that finance stuff and shifted gears into startups. It’s like he’s always been about building, creating, and having an effect.

Now, based in NYC, Steve’s all about more than just his own ventures. He’s an investor, advisor, and angel, always hunting for the future trend. His process screams one thing: he’s driven by a passion to innovate and do good. Whether it’s shaking up finance or tackling social issues with Deed, he’s all about making a real difference.

What’s wild is how his past in finance, grinding for years, building from zero, crushing revenue, fuels his startup hustle. He’s seen the highs and lows, learned what really matters, and now he’s applying that fire to build companies that can change the game. If you ask me, Steve’s the kind of guy who doesn’t just talk about innovation, he lives it, breathes it, and then goes out and does it.

Bottom line: Steve Liu is that rare mix of Wall Street vet and startup rebel, pushing boundaries and making shit happen. That’s why he’s so important, he’s proof that with enough hustle, smarts, and a little bit of guts, you can turn everything on its head.