Yu Chen
About Yu Chen
Yu Chen is a co-founder of Potluck Tech and a startup mentor at MIT Sandbox Innovation Fund Program. With extensive experience in technology and product management, she focuses on empowering diverse voices and bridging opportunity gaps through education and financing.
Work at Potluck Tech
Yu Chen serves as Co-Founder at Potluck Tech, a position she has held since 2023. At Potluck Tech, she focuses on providing fractional product leadership to startups. The organization aims to empower diverse voices in technology and supports founders who are working at the intersection of technology and social impact. Through her role, she offers coaching services to technology companies, helping them refine their product vision, prioritize initiatives, and manage roadmaps effectively.
Current Roles and Mentorship
In addition to her role at Potluck Tech, Yu Chen is actively involved in the MIT Sandbox Innovation Fund Program as a Startup Mentor since 2021. She has been mentoring startups for three years, providing guidance and support to emerging entrepreneurs. Furthermore, she is a Founding Member at ANGELS.vc and has been an Investor at TBD Angels since 2020. These roles highlight her commitment to fostering innovation and supporting the startup ecosystem.
Previous Experience in Technology and Consulting
Yu Chen has extensive experience in the technology sector, having worked at Google for eight years in various roles, including Technical Program Manager and Senior Partner Technology Manager. Her work at Google involved launching products in Search, Maps, and Internet connectivity, as well as leading teams across the US, EMEA, and APAC regions. Prior to her tenure at Google, she worked as a Product Lead at Flatiron School, where she led EdTech product initiatives, and as a Summer Associate at Bain & Company.
Educational Background
Yu Chen holds a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she also completed her Bachelor of Science (BS). Additionally, she earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from UCLA Anderson School of Management. Her educational background equips her with a strong foundation in both technical and business disciplines.
Focus on Diversity and Social Impact
As a first-generation immigrant and a woman in technology, Yu Chen is dedicated to empowering diverse voices within the tech industry. She is passionate about bridging the opportunity gap through education, technology, and financing. Her work as an angel investor reflects her commitment to supporting founders and initiatives that prioritize social impact alongside technological advancement.