Shawn Liam

Big ups to Shawn Liam, this guy’s a straight-up legend in the startup world, especially when it comes to food tech and building stuff that actually moves the needle. So, Shawn jumped into the scene with some serious chops, having worked at Astro Malaysia in UX and design, which already shows he’s got that knack for making things user-friendly and slick. Then he went to QUT in Australia, studying IT and Creative Industries, basically, the perfect combo for someone who wants to build cool tech that people actually want to use.

Fast forward a bit, he gets into YC’s Summer 2021 batch, which is no joke. That’s the kind of badge that says you’re doing something real. And that’s where he co-founded Atlas, the company he’s most known for. Atlas is basically building the operating system for restaurants, but not just any restaurants, focusing on Southeast Asia, which is like the food capital of the world with crazy growth possible. They’re helping restaurants manage everything online, storefronts, POS, logistics, integrations, you name it. Clients like SaladStop, Guzman y Gomez, Les Amis, legit top-tier brands. That shows he’s got a real understanding of the F&B scene and tech at the same time.

Before Atlas, Shawn was deep in the product game at Grain, a company that’s probably doing some slick stuff in the food and tech space too. He was Director of Products, GM in Bangkok, then Chief Product Officer. Basically, he’s been leading teams, building products, and making shit happen across different roles and cultures. That’s huge because it shows he’s not just a tech guy, he’s a startup builder who understands markets, people, and scaling.

What’s crazy is how all this stuff connects. Shawn’s process screams motivation, he’s not just chasing a paycheck. He’s out there trying to solve real problems in the restaurant world, a sector that’s been underserved tech-wise. He’s jumped into startups, learned fast, and kept pushing. His experience at Astro, Grain, and now Atlas shows he’s all about building stuff that’s not bullshit, something people want and need.

And even beyond the tech, he’s got this vibe of someone who’s super hands-on, understands communication design, software architecture, and the nuances of the F&B scene. That’s why he’s so effective, he’s not just a founder, he’s a builder who’s genuinely trying to make the restaurant industry better with tech, in Southeast Asia, where the food scene is explosive.

Bottom line: Shawn Liam’s the real deal. He’s a guy who saw a problem, jumped into YC, and crushed it by building an operating system that’s changing how restaurants work. He’s the perfect blend of tech, hustle, and market smarts. No cap, he’s someone to watch, because he’s shaping the future of food tech big time.