Ethan (Jiayi) Yu

Founder | AI & Marketing Leader | NYU Stern Scholar
New York, US.

About

Highly accomplished and entrepreneurial leader with a dual degree from NYU Stern (Summa Cum Laude), combining deep expertise in AI-powered technology and strategic marketing with a proven track record of building and scaling ventures. As Founder/CEO of Quis, Inc., spearheaded the development of a GNN-powered platform and assembled a top-tier technical team, complemented by a history of driving significant user growth and market share in previous roles. Recognized for exceptional academic achievement, cross-cultural leadership, and impactful public speaking, Ethan is poised to drive transformative growth in dynamic organizations.

Work

Quis, INC.
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Founder/CEO

New York, New York, US

Summary

Led the strategic vision and operational execution for Quis, INC., an innovative GNN-powered people search infrastructure and networking platform, operating as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Antler.

Highlights

Spearheaded the development and launch of a GNN-powered people search infrastructure and networking platform, leveraging cutting-edge AI technology to redefine professional networking.

Recruited and onboarded a high-caliber founding team, including an NYU Deep Learning PhD (ex-Lead Engineer at a medical AI firm) and an Amazon PhD researcher with 3,000+ citations, establishing a robust technical foundation.

Secured Entrepreneur in Residence status at Antler, validating venture potential and accessing critical startup resources and mentorship.

Drove foundational research and development in Graph Neural Networks (GNN) and AI, positioning the platform for scalable and intelligent search capabilities.

Individual IP
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Lecturer, Speaker, Young Leader, Influencer

Various Cities, N/A, China

Summary

Cultivated a prominent public profile as a lecturer, speaker, and influencer, driving significant engagement and thought leadership across diverse platforms and prestigious events.

Highlights

Amassed a substantial online following of over 1 million+ across social media platforms, generating more than 500 million+ views on content across the internet.

Delivered featured speeches and lectures at numerous prestigious universities and events, including Upenn Wharton China Business Summit (Closing Speaker) and Columbia Global Sustainability Summit (Opening Speaker).

Made over 50 appearances on high-profile live TV events and reality TV shows, significantly enhancing public visibility and brand reach.

Represented youth leadership and cross-cultural impact, earning recognition such as the Forbes Young International Leaders Award and serving as a China Global Youth Summit Representative.

TOTAL Education
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Head of Marketing (Post Acquisition)

Beijing, Beijing, China

Summary

Directed marketing strategy and operations for a key business unit post-acquisition, driving user growth and platform integration for a leading education technology company.

Highlights

Built and scaled a niche location-based social networking tool from inception to over 140,000 paying users, achieving a 40%+ market share by summer 2018.

Orchestrated the successful acquisition of the platform by TOTAL Education in October 2018, seamlessly integrating it as a core business unit.

Converted over 70% of paying customers to the TAL Education Platform, significantly expanding its user base and market penetration post-acquisition.

Navigated complex challenges arising from the 2021 nationwide education sector regulatory changes ('double reduction policy'), implementing strategic adjustments to mitigate adverse impacts.

Drove strategic marketing initiatives as Head of Marketing (CMO) for a critical business unit post-acquisition, ensuring continued growth and brand visibility within a dynamic market.

Managed a complex transition, departing the company in 2022 to pursue university education amidst major industry-wide disruption caused by new regulations.

Education

New York University Stern School of Business
New York, New York, United States of America

Dual Degree: Bachelor + Master

Business (Finance + Accounting)

Grade: GPA: 3.95/4.00 (Top 5% in class); Major GPA: 4.00/4.00 (Top 1/720 in class)

Courses

Corporate Finance

Investment Analysis

Financial Accounting

Managerial Accounting

Strategic Management

Marketing Principles

Business Analytics

Awards

Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society

Awarded By

Beta Gamma Sigma

Recognized for outstanding academic achievement in business.

KPMG Michael R. Nanus Memorial Scholarship

Awarded By

KPMG / NYU Stern

Awarded as the top student in a major at NYU Stern.

Dean's List Scholar

Awarded By

NYU Stern School of Business

Consistently recognized for exceptional academic performance.

Beta Gamma Sigma Scholar

Awarded By

Beta Gamma Sigma

Awarded for high scholastic achievement.

Teaching Fellow

Awarded By

NYU Stern School of Business

Selected for a teaching fellowship, demonstrating academic excellence and leadership potential.

ETS (Educational Testing Service) TOEFL Outstanding Scholar

Awarded By

ETS

Recognized for exceptional performance on the TOEFL examination.

Cum Laude Society (Summa Cum Laude)

Awarded By

Cum Laude Society

Graduated with highest honors, indicating superior academic achievement.

NYU Stern Class of 2024 President

Awarded By

NYU Stern School of Business

Elected to lead the graduating class, demonstrating strong leadership and peer recognition.

NYU Stern Judiciary Committee Member

Awarded By

NYU Stern School of Business

Appointed to the judiciary committee, contributing to governance and ethical standards.

Social Impact Fellow

Awarded By

NYU Stern School of Business

Recognized for commitment and contributions to social impact initiatives.

Senator Marcus A. Coolidge Award

Awarded By

Senator Marcus A. Coolidge

Received a prestigious award recognizing significant contributions to leadership and community.

China Global Youth Summit Representative

Awarded By

China Global Youth Summit

Selected to represent youth at a global summit, showcasing leadership and cross-cultural engagement.

AACYF U25 (All America Chinese Youth Federation/California State Senate Congressional Recognition)

Awarded By

AACYF / California State Senate

Recognized for outstanding contributions as a young Chinese American leader.

Forbes Young International Leaders Award (Forbes China)

Awarded By

Forbes China

Awarded for demonstrating exceptional leadership among young international professionals.

Asia-Pacific Leaders Initiative Outstanding Delegate (APEC Asia Pacific Leaders Initiative)

Awarded By

APEC Asia Pacific Leaders Initiative

Selected as an outstanding delegate, representing leadership and impact in the Asia-Pacific region.

Languages

English
Mandarin

Skills

Technical Skills

Graph Neural Networks (GNN), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Data Analysis, Product Development, Infrastructure Development.

Business & Strategy

Startup Strategy, Market Entry, Business Development, Financial Modeling, Accounting, Regulatory Compliance, Go-to-Market Strategy, Acquisition Integration, Entrepreneurship.

Marketing & Growth

Digital Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Content Creation, User Acquisition, Market Share Growth, Brand Development, Public Relations, Influencer Marketing, Multichannel Campaigns.

Leadership & Communication

Team Leadership, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Public Speaking, Lecturing, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Planning, Mentorship, Thought Leadership, Media Relations.