Michael Yang’s passion for e-commerce and logistics was essential in shaping his career path over the past two decades.
Yang, who has held several senior strategic roles in various industries over 20 years, became chief financial officer of Richmond-based e-commerce logistics company UniUni in 2020. Ranked the fourth fastest-growing Canadian company by The Globe and Mail in 2023, UniUni provides last-mile delivery service for e-commerce businesses across Canada and the U.S.
With Yang at its financial helm, UniUni’s business volume has grown 100 fold. The firm has also raised more than $100 million and has reached hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue in the past four years.
“I’m passionate about driving growth and scaling companies,” Yang said. “I enjoy solving complex financial and operational challenges, especially when it comes to helping startups navigate their way to success.”
UniUni, which works with Chinese e-commerce companies like Shein and Temu, secured $69 million (US$50 million) in Series C financing this past spring in a round led by venture capital firm DCM Ventures. This follows more than $45 million in Series B funding last year, backed by Celtic House Venture Partners.
Born and raised in Shanghai, Yang nearly two decades ago moved to Vancouver, where he lives with his family. He began studying finance at the age of 15, and earned an English diploma at Shanghai International Studies University while working and investing in his 20s. He later became a Canadian chartered professional accountant.
“Starting my journey in finance and investing at a very young age definitely shaped my career,” said Yang. “While finance has been the core of my work, it’s given me the opportunity to contribute more strategically over the years.”
Before joining UniUni, Yang founded LucPrise International, an advisory consultancy that helped companies—including UniUni—secure funding, growth and scale. As a startup advisor, he helped businesses navigate growth, develop talent and make exits.
Yang said he saw potential in UniUni early on, which led him to invest, advise and later join the company.
“I participated in and advised UniUni during its seed round, when the company was still in its infancy,” he recalled. “I saw a tremendous opportunity to disrupt the e-commerce logistics space in North America.”
Yang’s focus at UniUni remains on finance and taking on more responsibilities to support the company’s broader growth and scaling initiatives.
“Right now, I’m focused on continuing to scale UniUni across North America and extending our lead as the go-to e-commerce logistics platform in the region,” he said.
Navigating rapid growth while maintaining financial stability has been a recurring challenge, according to Yang.
“Another significant challenge was managing the transition from a startup mentality to a more structured corporate environment, which was key for our scalability,” he said.
While Yang works on scaling UniUni, he continues to advise other startups, as time permits.
Yang said he’s had many mentors along the way, and the most impactful advice he’s received has been about character and leadership rather than finance. For those entering the field of finance, Yang urges them to “take risks and challenge the status quo.”
“The best opportunities come from stepping out of your comfort zone and continuously learning,” he said. “While technical expertise is essential, building strong relationships and leadership skills will often be just as important in defining your success.”
