
Tommy Wu
Builder-CFO for AI startups | 3x founder backed by OpenAI | Recent exit to PE as CFO
San Francisco, California
Joined December 2024
Network
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Summary
Tommy Wu is a versatile finance and operations leader with deep experience in the AI and gaming startup ecosystems, having held CFO, COO, and CEO roles across multiple ventures. He is particularly adept at guiding early-stage companies from inception to significant milestones, including acquisitions and fundraising, leveraging his background in both finance and product development to drive growth and efficiency. wellfound+2
As a serial founder, Tommy has successfully launched and led three companies: Tribal Crossing, Inc. (a stealth-mode gaming startup), FableLabs (a game development studio focused on interactive fiction), and Tales (an AI storytelling platform that achieved strong user engagement and revenue metrics). His entrepreneurial journey showcases a consistent ability to build and scale innovative products. wellfound+2
Tommy possesses a unique blend of financial acumen and product-building skills, evidenced by his work as a fractional CFO where he focuses on transforming financial operations, optimizing unit economics, and integrating AI and automation into financial systems. His approach is characterized by data-driven pricing, cost optimization, and fostering financial literacy across teams to support profitable growth. foundercfo+1
With a background in investment banking at Morgan Stanley and private equity at Elevation Partners, Tommy brings a strong foundation in deal evaluation, M&A processes, and structured finance. This experience has been instrumental in his ability to raise capital for his own ventures and lead companies through successful exits, such as Echo AI's acquisition by Calabrio. wellfound+2
Work
Education
Writing
Modern Romance: Proposal by iPhone
October 1, 2019A personal essay about using an interactive app to propose marriage, reflecting on technology's role in modern relationships.
Whose Expression Is It Anyway?
February 1, 2012An article discussing the nuances of inspiration versus imitation in game development, arguing that users prioritize expression over invention and that effective distribution is crucial for success.
Notes
Mar 20, 2026
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