Yiming Liu

Yo, have I told you about Yiming Liu? This guy is the real deal in the startup world. Dude’s been deep in the trenches of tech and entrepreneurship for ages, and he’s got a story that’s straight-up inspiring.

So, Yiming’s background? He’s got hardcore creds-B.S. in Computer Science from Northwestern, then went all-in with a Master’s in Info from UC Berkeley’s School of Information. Basically, he’s always been obsessed with how info and tech can change lives. Started out as a Software Engineer Intern at Yahoo! Research Berkeley, so he’s no stranger to big tech labs either.

But here’s where it gets interesting. Instead of just chilling in academia or big corps, Yiming jumped into startups early. Like, he co-founded Ark back in YC’s Winter 2012 batch-think of it as a personal search engine, kinda like a smarter Google for your stuff. That thing was the real deal-finalist at TechCrunch Disrupt NYC 2012. The guy was clearly onto something. That’s the kind of hustle that screams ‘I see a problem, I build a solution, I crush it.’

But he didn’t stop there. He co-founded Popcuts, a music startup backed by YC, and it even took home a win at SXSW Accelerator. Yiming’s not just about tech for tech’s sake-he’s got a creative streak that’s all about making noise in music and culture. That’s the mark of someone who’s willing to jump into new industries and shake things up.

And then, he’s not just a startup founder, he’s been climbing the ladder in the industry too. He’s held senior roles like Director of Data Engineering at TCV, one of the biggest VC firms around, and CTO at Laterally, a company that’s all about AI-driven insights. Basically, he’s been influencing how data and tech get used at the highest levels.

What does all this say about him? Yiming’s the guy who sees the future, jumps in first, and builds stuff that actually matters. His process shows he’s fueled by curiosity, a no-bullshit attitude, and a hunger to solve real problems. He’s not just doing startups for the hype-he genuinely wants to push tech forward, whether it’s in search, music, or data engineering.

Honestly, if you ask me, Yiming Liu is one of those rare tech entrepreneurs who’s been there, done that, and keeps pushing the envelope. His story proves that success isn’t just about one big win-it’s about a relentless drive to innovate, learn, and never settle. No Cap, this guy’s got a serious impact, and I bet we’re gonna see even more from him down the line.