Michael Wu
About Michael Wu
Michael Wu serves as the Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Carta, where he has worked since 2020. He also holds a position as an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and has extensive experience in legal roles across various organizations, including Cooley LLP and BUILD.
Current Role at Grassroots Ecology
Michael Wu serves as a Board Member at Grassroots Ecology since 2021. In this role, he contributes to the organization's mission of promoting environmental stewardship and community engagement through ecological restoration projects. His involvement reflects a commitment to sustainability and community service.
Professional Experience at Carta
Michael Wu has held multiple positions at Carta, including SVP, Deputy General Counsel since 2020, General Counsel from 2019 to 2020, and Chief of Staff from 2018 to 2019. He was also part of the team as Head of People and worked in Operations, Business Development, and Legal from 2014 to 2018. As Employee #8, he played a significant role in Carta's early-stage growth and the expansion of its services, including cap table management and investor services.
Education and Expertise
Michael Wu earned his M.B.A. from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management, focusing on Management and Strategy as well as Finance. He holds a J.D. from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. Additionally, he has a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from the University of California, Berkeley. His educational background supports his expertise in legal matters and business operations.
Previous Experience and Contributions
Prior to his roles at Carta, Michael Wu worked at Cooley LLP as an Associate from 2010 to 2014 and as a Summer Associate in 2008. He also served as an Incubator Manager at BUILD from 2002 to 2005 and completed a legal internship at Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago in 2007. His diverse experiences have equipped him with skills in venture capital and startup support.
Teaching and Speaking Engagements
Since 2019, Michael Wu has served as an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has participated as a podcast guest and panel speaker, sharing insights on legal and startup-related topics, thereby contributing to the education of future legal professionals and entrepreneurs.