Yihung Chen
Systems Engineering at UIUC
I build teams, engineer solutions, invest in ideas, and once started a flower shop on campus for fun. Usually found at investor events, in the lab, or in my kitchen. Trying to understand how good ideas turn into real businesses.
Scroll slowly, time moves backward here...
How I think and build
A blend of engineering rigor and founder intuition.
I like trying new things-unexpected outcomes are where real growth happens. That's how I learn what actually works.
01
Builder mindset
I love bringing structure to chaos, building stable systems and optimizing details that others overlook. Small improvements compound into meaningful results. Inspired by The Toyota Way.
02
Research discipline
I enjoy diving into unfamiliar fields, nothing feels out of reach with the help of AI. When knowledge is accessible, creativity becomes the real differentiator.
03
Founder intuition
I'm a strong listener who focuses on bringing out the best in people. I enjoy organizing teams, combining different strengths, and encouraging others to go beyond their defined roles.
04
Investor perspective
Good ideas are everywhere-but execution comes down to people. I focus on the individuals behind the idea and their ability to build and follow through.
Capabilities
Skills, organized by the way I work.
Instead of a flat list, these clusters reflect the environments I tend to contribute in: product, research, engineering, and strategy.
Cluster 1
Engineering & Design
SolidWorks / Fusion 360Circuits & SolderingProduct PrototypingHardware Systems
Cluster 2
Programming & Data
JavaPythonCC++SQLAI InferenceData Processing
Cluster 3
Business & Strategy
Market AnalysisBrand StrategyWorkflow OptimizationLean Manufacturing
Cluster 4
Research & Analysis
Experimental designLarge dataset analysisTechnical reportingCross-functional synthesis
Contact
If this story feels aligned, I'd love to continue the conversation.
I'm especially interested in opportunities that sit at the intersection of engineering, product, research, startups, and thoughtful business building.