Shuo Wang Becomes a Billionaire by Simplifying Global Hiring
By James Moreau | 16 Oct, 2025

The Deel co-founder built the tech startup to a $15 billion valuation by automating global hiring, payroll, and compliance.

Shuo Wang has built Deel into a platform for companies with global workforces by simplifying payroll, local compliance, benefits, and visa issues – including untangling the White House’s new $100,000 H-1B Visa application fee.

It took just two years after its founding in 2019 with MIT classmate Alex Bouaziz for the San Francisco-based company to scale up to unicorn status.  It currently serves over 35,000 customers in more than 150 countries with Wang serving as Chief Revenue Officer.

In Q1 2025 Deel achieved double digit EBITDA margin growth and in April, 75% year-over-year revenue growth.  By surpassing a $1 billion run rate Deel’s valuation rose as high as $15 billion.

Deel is targeting a 2026 IPO, subject to the state of the global economy.

The rapid growth of her company has Forbes estimating Wang’s net worth at $1.5B, placing her number 23 on its list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women.

Wang left grad school in 2015 to start her first company Aeris, specializing in air purifiers, with another MIT classmate Pierre Bi.  She served as Chief Technology Officer through 2018 before shifting her focus to Deel.  iRobot bought Aeris for $72 million cash in 2021. Wang moved to Baltimore from Shenyang, China at the age of 16.  She graduated from MIT in 2013 with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and a concentration in robotics.