Open to opportunities

Yao Wang

@yaowang

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VC and growth investing professional focused on SaaS, FinTech, and applied AI.

United States

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What I'm looking for

I seek investor roles (VC/growth) where I can lead sourcing and diligence, shape sector theses, partner with founders, and drive portfolio value creation in product-led SaaS and applied AI companies.

I am an investor and MBA candidate with hands-on experience sourcing, diligencing, and executing early- and growth-stage investments across enterprise SaaS, FinTech, and applied AI. I have led sector thesis development, built valuation models and pipelines, authored investment memoranda, and supported post-investment value creation, deploying capital and closing deals.

Prior to business school I executed deals and led diligence at a Beijing-based investment firm, supported audit and advisory engagements at Ernst & Young, and completed VC and search-fund internships during my MBA. I combine rigorous financial analysis (DCF, LBO, M&A) with practical product and GTM insights to identify scalable opportunities and partner with founders to drive growth.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

MBA Summer Intern

Permont Capital

Jun 2024 - Aug 2024 (2 months)

Conducted market research, competitive analysis, and diligence to support thesis-driven sourcing and evaluation of lower-middle-market software and services businesses for a search fund; built valuation models and drafted investment memoranda to inform partner-level decisions.

Market Research Financial Modeling Valuation Due Diligence Pitchbook Notion Deal Sourcing

MBA Venture Associate

Cav Angels

Sep 2023 - May 2024 (8 months)

Supported early-stage investment diligence and market research for a university-affiliated venture fund, leading diligence on an AI recruiting startup and mapping market opportunities to inform investment theses.

Competitive Analysis Research

Investor

Beijing Hongzhou Investment Company, Ltd

Jan 2019 - Dec 2023 (4 years 11 months)

Led end-to-end execution of early- and growth-stage investments across enterprise SaaS, FinTech, and applied AI; sourced 200+ opportunities, closed eight investments, and deployed over $20M in capital while authoring investment memoranda and sector deep dives.

Deal Sourcing Due Diligence Investment Analysis Market Research Financial Modeling Sector Thesis

Senior Auditor

Ernst & Young

Jan 2015 - Dec 2019 (4 years 11 months)

Led audit engagements and teams to evaluate financial controls, detected $16M revenue fraud, recovered $700K+ in bad debts, and delivered advisory work that reduced inventory write-offs and improved audit cycle times by 16%.

Financial Audit Risk Assessment Internal Controls Advisory Team Leadership Financial Reporting

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

University of Virginia Darden School of Business

Master of Business Administration, Management Science

Activities and societies: Forte Fellow; Breakthrough Scholars Fellow; VP, Entrepreneurship & VC Club (led founder-investor events); VP, Private Equity Club (led investment case prep and industry events)

Full-time MBA with a specialization in Management Science; active in entrepreneurship, VC, and PE clubs and recipient of Forte and Breakthrough Scholars fellowships.

University of Birmingham

Bachelor of Science, Money, Banking and Finance

Activities and societies: VP of InterVol (directed fundraising and student volunteer projects across four countries); community empowerment project leader (local government outreach)

Bachelor of Science in Money, Banking and Finance with leadership in student charity and community empowerment projects.