Deliveroo CEO Will Shu turned 100-hour weeks on Wall Street into a $4 billion food empire. Now he’s cashing out with $250 million

Core Insights - Will Shu, the CEO of Deliveroo, transformed a personal need for late-night food delivery into a successful business, leading to a $4 billion acquisition by DoorDash and a personal windfall of nearly $250 million from his stake [1][3]. Company Background - Deliveroo was founded in 2013 by Will Shu, who identified a gap in the market for late-night food delivery while working long hours as an investment banker [2]. - The company has grown from a small startup to a multinational food delivery service, culminating in its acquisition by DoorDash for approximately £3 billion (around $4 billion) [3]. Leadership and Vision - Shu announced his decision to step down as CEO, reflecting on the journey of taking Deliveroo from an idea to a significant player in the food delivery industry [4]. - The company faced challenges, including a difficult IPO in 2021 where shares fell by 30%, but Shu's commitment to the business remained unwavering [4]. Entrepreneurial Philosophy - Shu emphasizes the importance of fully dedicating oneself to a business idea and taking risks, which he believes are essential for learning and growth in entrepreneurship [5]. - His hands-on approach included personally delivering orders in the early days to gain insights into the business from a driver's perspective [5][6].