# Michael Yang

> Michael Yang is a Korean American entrepreneur, investor and author based in La Cañada Flintridge, California. He co-founded mySimon with Yeogirl Yun in 1998 and later Become.com in 2004. CNET announced its roughly $700 million stock acquisition of mySimon in January 2000. Yang subsequently founded Michael Yang Capital Management and co-founded the Council of Korean Americans. His 2026 memoir, Coming Alive on the Ride, connects his immigrant upbringing and technology career with long-distance motorcycle travel.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO at Michael Yang Capital Management, LLC; author at Michael Yang Adventures LLC
- **Organizations:** mySimon.com, Become.com, Michael Yang Capital Management, LLC, Michael Yang Adventures LLC, Council of Korean Americans, Hanmi Financial Corporation (former director), Xerox, Samsung Electronics
- **From:** Seoul, South Korea
- **Nationality:** Korean American
- **Education:** BS, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley, MS, Computer Science, Columbia University, MBA, UC Berkeley Haas School of Business
- **Known for:** Co-founded mySimon, acquired by CNET in 2000 in a roughly $700 million stock transaction., Co-founded Become.com and helped build an international shopping-search business., Co-founder and founding chairman of the Council of Korean Americans.

## Career timeline

- **1976** — Immigrated with his family from South Korea to San Jose, California, at fourteen.
- **Before 1998** — Worked in engineering, marketing and management at technology companies including Xerox and Samsung Electronics.
- **1998** — Co-founded the online comparison-shopping service mySimon.com with Yeogirl Yun.
- **2000** — CNET announced its acquisition of mySimon in a stock transaction valued at roughly $700 million.
- **2004** — Co-founded Become.com with Yeogirl Yun, returning to shopping search.
- **2010** — Council of Korean Americans lists him as a member since 2010 and identifies him as co-founder and founding chairman.
- **2014** — Become.com was acquired by Connexity.
- **2016** — Joined the Hanmi Financial board.
- **2022** — Rode from Los Angeles to Newfoundland and Labrador and back.
- **2023** — Rode from Los Angeles to Alaska, crossing the Arctic Circle.
- **2024** — Traveled by motorcycle in Patagonia.
- **2026** — Published Coming Alive on the Ride on March 10; Hanmi announced he would not seek another board term at its May annual meeting.

## Achievements

- Co-founded mySimon, acquired by CNET in 2000 in a roughly $700 million stock transaction.
- Co-founded Become.com and helped build an international shopping-search business.
- Co-founder and founding chairman of the Council of Korean Americans.
- Author of Coming Alive on the Ride, published by Greenleaf Book Group Press on March 10, 2026.
- Holds a fourth-degree black belt in Taekwondo.
- His website announced the memoir was a Travel finalist in the 20th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards in June 2026.

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — His website announced that Coming Alive on the Ride was a Travel finalist in the 20th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards.
- **2026-05** — Hanmi’s 2026 proxy stated that Yang would not seek another term and would cease being a director at the May 27 annual meeting.
- **2026-04** — Discussed entrepreneurship and leadership with Adam Mendler in an interview published April 6.
- **2026-03** — Coming Alive on the Ride was published March 10; a launch celebration took place March 7 at EK Art Gallery in Los Angeles.

## Links

- Website: https://www.michaelyang.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelyang831/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/michaelmyang
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aliveontheride
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelyang831/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelyang1/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/michael-yang
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22