Cheryl Yeoh

Cheryl Yeoh – Life, Career & Impact

Discover the story of Cheryl Yeoh (born 1983) — entrepreneur, investor, ecosystem builder, and advocate for inclusion in tech. Learn about her journey, achievements, and thought leadership.

Introduction

Cheryl Yeoh (also known by her married name Cheryl Sew Hoy) is a Malaysian-born entrepreneur, angel investor, and startup ecosystem builder widely recognized in Southeast Asia and Silicon Valley. She came to prominence as the founding CEO of MaGIC (Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativity Centre), shaping Malaysia’s startup ecosystem, and has since founded ventures in health tech and championed diversity and safer work cultures in tech.

Her story is inspiring for aspiring founders, especially women in tech, because it bridges different geographies, sectors, and social challenges.

Early Life & Education

Although your prompt says “Chinese — born May 31, 1983,” public records indicate that Cheryl Yeoh was born 31 May 1983, with roots in Malaysia.

She grew up in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, as the eldest daughter of Audrey Chan and Allen Yeoh.

At age 18, she earned a full scholarship from Malaysia’s Public Service Department (JPA) to study in the U.S.

She attended Cornell University, earning a B.Sc. in Operations Research & Industrial Engineering, then went on to pursue a Master’s in Engineering Management at Cornell.

While at Cornell, she was active in campus life: she was inducted into the Sphinx Head honor society and advocated for introducing labyrinth walking as a wellness tool.

Entrepreneurial Journey

Early Startups: CityPockets & Reclip.It

In 2010, Cheryl and co-founders launched CityPockets, one of the first digital wallet / deals-aggregation platforms. Reclip.It, a personalized list and coupon aggregator.

Reclip.It gained traction, and in 2013 it was acquired by Walmart Labs.

Leading MaGIC & Southeast Asia’s Ecosystem

In April 2014, Cheryl took on a new challenge: she left Silicon Valley to become the founding CEO of MaGIC, a government-funded agency aimed at fueling innovation, startup growth, and entrepreneurship across Malaysia and the ASEAN region.

At MaGIC, she launched programs such as:

• Malaysia Accelerator Program (MAP)

• Partnerships with Stanford University and Techstars

• MaGIC Academy and immersive programs to bridge regional startups with Silicon Valley best practices

Cheryl stepped down from MaGIC in January 2016.

Later Ventures & Health Tech

After MaGIC, Cheryl moved to San Francisco.

She became entrepreneur-in-residence at Silicon Valley Bank and advised or invested in emerging tech firms, including in blockchain, health, and education sectors.

More recently, she is the Founder & CEO of Tiny Health, a health-tech startup focusing on microbiome testing (gut and vaginal microbiome) for individuals and families.

Advocacy, Vision & Influence

#MovingForward

In 2017, Cheryl publicly shared her experience of sexual harassment in the tech world, including during a 2014 interaction with an investor (Dave McClure).

She co-founded the #MovingForward campaign and public directory, urging venture capital firms and startups to commit to diversity, inclusion, and harassment policies.

Ecosystem Builder & Thought Leader

Cheryl is often cited as a key figure in helping put Malaysian and ASEAN startups on the global map.

She is a frequent speaker and mentor, having appeared at global forums in the U.S. and Asia, and has been recognized in “Top Female Founders” lists (e.g. Mashable’s “Top 44 Female Founders Every Entrepreneur Should Know” in 2012)

Her personal story—crashing on friends’ couches, bootstrapping with a minimal budget, iterating startups, and later leading a national innovation agency—resonates with many aspiring entrepreneurs.

Personality & Strengths

• Resilience & adaptability – Cheryl has pivoted across sectors and geographies, adapting to new challenges.

• Bridge builder – She connects Silicon Valley practices with Southeast Asian contexts.

• Values-driven leader – Her public stance on harassment and inclusion shows her commitment to ethical leadership.

• Hands-on founder mindset – From early days of frugality to scaling agencies, she understands both strategy and execution.

• Mentorship & advocacy orientation – She invests energy in helping others, especially underrepresented founders.

Selected Recognitions & Awards

• Named one of “Top 44 Female Founders Every Entrepreneur Should Know” by Mashable (2012)

• Included in Malaysia’s Top 40 Under 40 and other leadership awards in Asia

• Recognized as a social media influencer by Malaysia’s Rice Bowl Startup Awards (2016)

• Listed by Tatler Asia and other regional media for her influence in tech and innovation circles

Lessons & Insights

1. Build with both local and global sensibilities — Cheryl shows how one can combine Silicon Valley rigor with local cultural understanding.

2. Transparency matters — Her courage to speak up about harassment has helped shift norms in tech.

3. Ecosystem matters — Founders don’t operate in a vacuum; the institutions, policies, and community around them are crucial.

4. Pivoting is not failure — Her shift from deals aggregation to health tech demonstrates that responsiveness to market needs is a virtue.

5. Leadership includes advocacy — Business success and social impact need not be separate; one can lead with purpose.