# Wei Deng

> Wei Deng is the CEO and founder of Clipboard Health, a San Francisco-based healthcare labor marketplace that connects nurses and other healthcare professionals with open shifts at facilities like nursing homes and hospitals. Founded in 2016 and backed by Sequoia Capital and IVP, the company achieved unicorn status at a $1.3B valuation after raising $94M in total funding. A Yale College and Yale Law School graduate, Deng pivoted through six to eight business models before discovering that flexible, on-demand shift matching was the key to solving healthcare staffing shortages. Known for her relentless persistence — she pitched facilities seven months pregnant — Deng built Clipboard Health into a platform serving over 5,000 facilities across the United States.

- **Role:** CEO & Founder at Clipboard Health
- **Organizations:** Clipboard Health, Y Combinator, Sendwave, Moelis & Company, Davis Polk & Wardwell, Gold House
- **Nationality:** American (Chinese immigrant background)
- **Education:** Bachelor of Arts, Economics, Yale University, Juris Doctor (JD), Yale Law School
- **Known for:** Built Clipboard Health from zero to $1.3B+ unicorn valuation, Raised $94M total funding from investors including Sequoia Capital and IVP, Grew the company 25x in 18 months (March 2021 onward)

## Career timeline

- **2008** — Joined Davis Polk & Wardwell as an attorney
- **2010** — Moved to investment banking at Moelis & Company
- **2014** — Joined Sendwave as one of the first 10 employees; opened UK and European corridors
- **2016** — Founded Clipboard Health through Y Combinator (W2017); began as income-share agreements for nurses
- **2017** — Pivoted through multiple models; secured first customer — a Walnut Creek nursing facility — after pitching in-person while seven months pregnant
- **2021** — Raised Series B ($50M); company grew 20x+ since January 2021
- **2022** — Raised Series C ($30M) led by Sequoia Capital; company valued at $1.3B+
- **2023** — Obtained CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) certification to deeply understand customers
- **2024** — Clipboard Health serves 5,000+ facilities with over 1,600 employees; expanding into dental and anesthesiology

## Achievements

- Built Clipboard Health from zero to $1.3B+ unicorn valuation
- Raised $94M total funding from investors including Sequoia Capital and IVP
- Grew the company 25x in 18 months (March 2021 onward)
- Platform serves 5,000+ healthcare facilities across the United States
- Obtained CNA certification to better understand healthcare workers
- Promoted approximately 90% of executives from internal ranks
- Named to Gold House's A100 List of most impactful Asian Americans
- Featured by Y Combinator as a model of persistent pivoting to product-market fit
- Built a team of 1,600+ employees while maintaining customer-first culture

## Latest updates

- **2024-03** — Clipboard Health continues expanding, serving 5,000+ healthcare facilities with 1,600+ employees
- **2023-01** — Wei Deng featured in multiple Y Combinator interviews discussing user research, MVP testing, and founder psychology
- **2022-02** — Clipboard Health raised $30M Series C led by Sequoia Capital, reaching unicorn status at $1.3B valuation
- **2021-06** — IVP led Series B investment; company reported 20x growth since January 2021

## Links

- Website: https://clipboardhealth.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/dengwei
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClipboardHealth/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/wei-deng
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-20