# Mikael Yang

> Mikael Yang, also known professionally as Mike Yan, is the co-founder and CEO of Manychat. A psychology graduate of HSE University, he previously built an online magic school, the entertainment site YouComedy and the GIF app Banaan. He and Antony Gorin started Manychat in 2015; its 2025 funding announcement reported more than a million businesses across over 170 countries.

- **Role:** Co-Founder & CEO at Manychat
- **Organizations:** Manychat, ManyBot, YouComedy, Banaan, YouMagic.ru
- **Education:** Psychology; graduated in 2013, HSE University (Higher School of Economics)
- **Known for:** Co-founded Manychat, which reported serving more than a million businesses in over 170 countries in its April 2025 funding announcement., Built a Telegram bot-creation product that reached 20,000 bots within roughly three months in 2015, according to his EcomCrew interview., Led Manychat through its early growth and later represented it as CEO during its $140 million 2025 funding announcement.

## Career timeline

- **During university** — Built and later sold the online magic school YouMagic.ru with friends.
- **2011** — Developed the entertainment social network YouComedy.
- **2014** — Launched the GIF app Banaan.
- **2015** — Co-founded Manychat with Antony Gorin, initially building on Telegram.
- **2016** — Joined 500 Startups in January; launched the Facebook Messenger product in May.
- **2019** — Manychat raised an $18 million Series A led by Bessemer Venture Partners.
- **2022** — Announced a CEO handoff to Sunny Manivannan, remaining chairman and head of product.
- **2025** — Publicly identified as CEO in the April announcement of a $140 million funding round led by Summit Partners.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Manychat, which reported serving more than a million businesses in over 170 countries in its April 2025 funding announcement.
- Built a Telegram bot-creation product that reached 20,000 bots within roughly three months in 2015, according to his EcomCrew interview.
- Led Manychat through its early growth and later represented it as CEO during its $140 million 2025 funding announcement.

## Latest updates

- **2025-11** — Appeared with Gannon Meyer in a Manychat community session on trust and authenticity in the creator economy; replay posted November 25.
- **2025-04** — Manychat announced a $140 million growth investment led by Summit Partners, bringing announced total funding to $163.3 million.
- **2025-03** — Discussed entrepreneurship, fatherhood and arranging parental leave with his board and executive team on Startup Dad.

## Links

- Website: https://manychat.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedyan/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themikeyan/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikedyang

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/mikael-yang
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-24