Who is Will Shu? The Northwestern and Wharton MBA grad behind a $4 billion food empire

Will Shu , the co-founder and former CEO of Deliveroo , is a visionary entrepreneur who turned personal frustration into a global food delivery empire. Born in Connecticut to Taiwanese-American parents, Shu transformed his experiences on Wall Street and at business school into a blueprint for disrupting the way people access food. His journey—from grueling workweeks as an investment banker to personally delivering meals in London—illustrates how observation, determination, and hands-on leadership can create one of the fastest-growing food tech companies in the world.
Early life and educationBorn in December 1979, Shu grew up with a strong drive to excel academically. He attended Northwestern University , earning his bachelor’s degree in 2001. During his time at Northwestern , Shu developed the analytical and business skills that would become essential in both his finance career and his future entrepreneurial ventures.
Life on Wall StreetAfter graduation, Shu joined Morgan Stanley in New York City as an analyst. The role demanded long 100-hour workweeks, but Shu found a small comfort in late-night food delivery, a convenience that left a lasting impression. These experiences planted the seeds for the idea that would later become Deliveroo.
London’s delivery challengeIn 2004, Shu transferred to Morgan Stanley’s London office, where he encountered a major problem: high-quality food delivery options were scarce. After exhausting workdays, he often relied on supermarket meals from Tesco, which he found uninspiring. This everyday frustration sparked the initial idea of creating a better food delivery experience.
Hedge funds and Wharton MBAShu briefly worked at hedge funds, including S.A.C. Capital Advisors and ESO Capital , before realizing he needed time to reflect on his career and entrepreneurial ambitions. In 2010, he returned to the United States to pursue an MBA at the Wharton School , University of Pennsylvania , graduating in 2012. While he humorously described his MBA as “two years of drinking and hanging out,” it also provided the strategic perspective and planning time to lay the foundation for his business vision.
Founding DeliverooIn 2013, Shu partnered with childhood friend and software engineer Greg Orlowski to launch Deliveroo. Operating initially from Shu’s small London apartment with only three restaurants, the venture began humbly. Shu personally delivered meals for nine months, immersing himself in the customer and operational experience—a hands-on approach that became central to Deliveroo’s culture.
Rapid growth and global expansionDeliveroo quickly expanded beyond London to cities such as Paris, Berlin, and Dublin. By 2017, the company was valued at over £1.5 billion, operating in 12 countries across more than 150 cities. Shu’s focus on quality, efficiency, and technology-driven logistics helped Deliveroo scale rapidly, and he occasionally continued making deliveries to stay connected to the core customer experience.
Lessons from Shu’s journeyWill Shu’s journey demonstrates that personal frustration can spark global innovation. From a demanding finance career to an MBA, and finally to founding a global food delivery giant, Shu leveraged his education, professional experience, and relentless dedication to create a company that transformed how people access food in urban centers worldwide. His story is a testament to hands-on leadership, strategic thinking, and the power of turning everyday problems into revolutionary solutions.