Liz Wessel
InvestorFounderPartner at First Round Capital · Founder/CEO at WayUp
San Francisco, California
Writes $100K – $12M checks · typically $3.5M
FoundedWayUp · YC
About
Liz Wessel joined First Round in 2023 as a Partner in San Francisco, focusing on companies reinventing traditional industries or built on breakthrough technologies. She previously co-founded and ran WayUp for seven years (raising over $40M before its 2021 acquisition), was a Visiting Group Partner at Y Combinator, and has angel-invested in 45+ startups including Ramp, Scale AI, and Ro.
Likely email· guessed from name + firm domain, not firm-published
- l•••@wayup.comreveal75% confident
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareSaaS
Founder/CEO at WayUpYC W15
Intro paths
Liz went through Y Combinator (Winter 2015) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
In turn, Liz can intro founders to WayUp's investors below.
WayUp's investors · 9
Co-founders at WayUp
Experience
- First Round CapitalPartnercurrent2023 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
- Self-employedAngel Investor2016 — 2023
- Y CombinatorVisiting Group Partner2022 — 2023San Francisco, California, United States
- WayUpAdvisor2022 — 2023
- WayUpCo-Founder & CEO2014 — 2022New York, United States
- GoogleProduct Marketing Manager2013 — 2014India
- GoogleAssociate Product Marketing Manager (APMM)2012 — 2013Mountain View, CA
- PennEatsCo-Founder and CEO (while in school)2010 — 2012
- GoogleMarketing and Strategy Intern2011Mountain View, California, United States
- BlackstonePrivate Equity Summer Analyst2010Tokyo, Japan
- Hillary for AmericaCampaign Intern (2007-2008)2007 — 2008
Education
- University of PennsylvaniaBA with Honors, Political Science2008 — 2012
- Columbia Grammar and Preparatory SchoolHigh School Diploma2003 — 2008
Skills & more
+3 more
Social NetworkingEnglishPhotoshopFrom Liz's professional profile.
Investments
Per the firm's website.
Colleagues at First Round Capital
Network4
Investors connected to Liz in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Liz Wessel?
- Liz Wessel joined First Round in 2023 as a Partner in San Francisco, focusing on companies reinventing traditional industries or built on breakthrough technologies. She previously co-founded and ran WayUp for seven years (raising over $40M before its 2021 acquisition), was a Visiting Group Partner at Y Combinator, and has angel-invested in 45+ startups including Ramp, Scale AI, and Ro.
- Where does Liz Wessel work?
- Liz Wessel is Founder/CEO of WayUp and Partner at First Round Capital.
- What does Liz Wessel invest in?
- Liz Wessel invests in AI & Machine Learning, Enterprise Software, SaaS.
- What check size does Liz Wessel write?
- Liz Wessel typically writes checks of $100K – $12M.
- What companies did Liz Wessel found?
- Liz Wessel founded WayUp.
- What companies has Liz Wessel invested in?
- Investments tracked here include Blaxel, David AI, Gumloop, Ramp, Reducto, Ro, Salient, Scale AI, Scotch, Solidroad.
- Where did Liz Wessel go to school?
- Liz Wessel studied at University of Pennsylvania (BA with Honors, Political Science); Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School (High School Diploma).
Founder mafias
Y Combinator mafia8,773
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
+ 8,766 more
University of Pennsylvania mafia201
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
+ 194 more
First Round Capital mafia21
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
+ 14 more
Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School mafia3
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended University of Pennsylvania770
+ 764 more
Also attended Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School6
Shared employers
Also worked at Y Combinator337
+ 331 more
Also worked at WayUp3
Also worked at Google1,595
+ 1,589 more



.png)



















%20(1).webp)




.png)


















