From Side Hustles to Direct Delivery: Larry Liu’s Journey to Building Weee!

In this episode of the Aconic Podcast, host Soon Yu sits down with Larry Liu, the CEO of Weee!, America's largest online Asian supermarket. Larry delves into his immigrant journey, the early challenges in America, and his relentless hustle from reselling backpacks to launching Weee!. They discuss Larry's initial struggles to secure funding and how, through sheer determination and community support, he pivoted Weee! from a group-buying model to a successful grocery delivery service. Larry's story underscores the importance of resilience, leveraging community networks, and the ability to pivot for entrepreneurial success. His journey is a testament to how recognizing and addressing the fundamental needs of underserved communities can lead to groundbreaking business opportunities.

01:57 Larry Liu Growing up
06:09 His First Side Hustle
08:58 From Friends to Co-Founders
11:36 Coming to the US
17:08 Early Days in Folsom and the Seed of an Idea
32:38 The Birth of Weee!
33:47 Early Challenges and Self-Funding
49:16 The Pivot to Grocery Delivery
59:51 Future Plans and Vision

Geoff Yang, co-founder of Redpoint Ventures : From Building Network Routers to Building a Network of Entrepreneurs, Hip Hop Artists and Olympians

In this episode of the Aconic Podcast, Soon Yu interviews venture capital titan and Redpoint Ventures co-founder Geoff Yang as he shares his extraordinary journey of building influential networks that extend far beyond Silicon Valley. From early bets on game-changing companies like Netflix, Uber, and Snowflake, Geoff's vision has shaped industries. Discover how he's leveraged his leadership as head of the US Olympic and Paralympic Foundation and forged connections with icons across sports, entertainment, and hip hop. Geoff delves into the leadership principles, resilience, and the art of cultivating meaningful relationships that have defined his success.

3:00 - Immigrant roots: Growing up in a Chinese family with strong educational values.
9:00 - The secret to success: Passion for the journey, not just financial gain.
14:00 - Geoff’s advice for entrepreneurs.
24:00 - The myth of “all or nothing” risk-taking: Why measured risk is key.
29:00 - Blending passions: How Geoff’s love for sports led to leadership roles in skiing, golf, and basketball.
39:00 - Creating Auron: Using science and technology to optimize health and longevity.