About

I'm Lei. I'm a builder, and it's our turn to build the future we want to see.

I believe technology empowers people, especially the ones the tech industry tends to overlook. That's been the thread through everything I've worked on. Emote was about education. Workstream is about hourly workers and local business owners. The intersection of technology and the real world is where the magic happens.

Been in the Bay Area for the last ~20 years and a startup founder for 10+. Currently working on Workstream, backed by Founders Fund, Notable, and BOND (raised $120M+). Previously co-founded Emote (YC S16). Wore every hat there is to wear. Learned a ton and still learning.

Product person in practice, engineer by training. I've led teams of people, and now I lead teams of AI agents too. Turns out the job isn't that different.

• Workstream (2017 – present) — Co-founder. Many hats.
• Emote (2015 – 2017) — Co-founder, CTO. YC S16.
• Google (2012 – 2015) — Revenue Acceleration, then Software Engineering (London).
• ZS Associates (2011 – 2012) — Management consulting, pharma.
• Xerox PARC (2010) — Research intern.
• UC Berkeley — B.S. Industrial Engineering, B.A. Economics. Top of class.