When we think about entrepreneurs who embody the fearless spirit of Silicon Valley, Jess Mah is one of the brightest examples. She sprinted into the startup world, launching her first six-figure business in middle school and never looking back. Over the past decade, Jess has founded companies, scaled teams into the hundreds, and inspired the next generation of entrepreneurs with her resilience and vision.
Her career is the story of someone who grew up with a love for building businesses and transformed that passion into ventures that solved real problems. Today, as the founder of Mahway, she’s helping other entrepreneurs turn their boldest ideas into reality.
How a Childhood in New York Sparked a Lifelong Passion
Born in 1990 in Westchester County, New York, Jess Mah was raised in a household shaped by entrepreneurship. Her parents, immigrants from Hong Kong, were entrepreneurs in the clothing business, and their drive to build something of their own left a meaningful impression.
By the time Jess was a teenager, she was already taking an unconventional path. She left high school at just 15 years old to attend Bard College at Simon’s Rock, an early college for precocious students who wanted an accelerated start. At 17, she transferred to the University of California, Berkeley, where she studied computer science and graduated by age 19.
Even before starting college, Jess had already made her mark. At 11, she started her first business, reselling server space. At 13, she built an eBay company selling computer parts. For most middle schoolers, these would have been hobbies. For Jess, they were proof of her entrepreneurial instincts and her ability to turn curiosity into profit.
Looking back, it’s easy to see how her upbringing and early ventures laid the foundation for a career that would make her one of the most talked-about young entrepreneurs in tech.
The Moment Jess Mah Broke Into Silicon Valley’s Inner Circle
In 2009, while studying at UC Berkeley, Jess Mah co-founded inDinero with her classmate Andy Su. Their mission was bold but straightforward: They wanted to make accounting easier for small businesses. Instead of relying on clunky spreadsheets or expensive CPAs, they envisioned software that could simplify accounting and taxes.
After graduation, Jess and Andy were accepted into Y Combinator, the famed Silicon Valley accelerator that had already helped launch companies like Dropbox and Airbnb. At the time, Jess was the youngest woman accepted into the program.
Y Combinator gave inDinero funding as well as providing mentorship and visibility. Jess quickly impressed investors with her clarity of vision and ability to execute. By the end of the program, inDinero had 20 investors on board, and Jess’s place in Silicon Valley’s startup community was firmly established.
Her acceptance marked a turning point in her career. Joining Y Combinator proved she could build something big enough to disrupt an industry.
Scaling a Simple Idea into a FinTech Powerhouse
inDinero’s early days weren’t without challenges. Initially, the company focused heavily on software, but Jess Mah quickly realized that small business owners wanted more than just tools. They wanted a solution that paired software with accounting expertise. Pivoting the model, she built a service that combined automation with human support, giving entrepreneurs peace of mind about their finances.
The idea worked. Over the next several years, Jess scaled inDinero from zero to multi-million-dollar revenues, growing the company to over 200 employees.
What makes inDinero so impressive is the impact it’s had on the lives of real people. For countless small businesses, inDinero eliminated the stress of accounting and gave founders the freedom to focus on running their companies.
Jess’s leadership also stood out. She was able to build a team that valued innovation and customer success.
Recognition Across Industries
It didn’t take long for Jess Mah’s success to attract attention. She was recognized on some of the most prestigious lists in business and tech, such as Forbes 30 Under 30, Inc. Magazine’s 30 Under 30, and Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business.
In 2015, Jess appeared on the cover of Inc. Magazine, cementing her status as one of the faces of Silicon Valley’s new generation of entrepreneurs.
Still, what made Jess truly stand out was her authenticity. She openly discussed the ups and downs of startup life, admitting that success didn’t come without setbacks and pivots. In doing so, she became an admired entrepreneur as well as a relatable role model.
Building the Future of Tech Innovation
After proving she could build and scale a company, Jess Mah turned her attention to something even bigger. She wanted to help other entrepreneurs do the same, and that’s where Mahway came in.
Mahway is a venture creation firm that sets itself apart from traditional VCs by focusing on co-building businesses in addition to providing capital. Jess and her team work closely with founders, providing resources, strategy, and operational support to transform ideas into thriving companies.
This shift from founder to builder marks Jess’s evolution as a leader. No longer just creating her own businesses, she’s building an ecosystem where dozens of entrepreneurs can flourish.
How Jess Mah Inspires the Next Generation of Founders
Jess Mah’s leadership goes beyond the companies she’s founded. She has spent the past decade building a reputation as a mentor, advocate, and community builder.
She became the youngest member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) in 2013, connecting with other leaders and sharing her experiences. In 2024, she graduated as the youngest participant in Harvard Business School’s Presidents’ Program, adding another milestone to her already remarkable résumé.
She’s also passionate about encouraging girls and young women to pursue STEM, often sharing her story to inspire others to break into tech and entrepreneurship. Jess serves on five boards, mentors up-and-coming founders, and continues to speak at conferences about resilience, innovation, and the realities of startup life.
It’s this blend of professional achievement and personal advocacy that makes her such a compelling figure in the business world today.
Why Jess Mah’s Story Is One Entrepreneurs Shouldn’t Ignore
Looking back at Jess Mah’s career, it’s clear she’s accomplished more by 35 than most entrepreneurs hope to achieve in a lifetime.
From her early experiments with server space and eBay businesses to scaling inDinero to founding Mahway and empowering other innovators, her career is proof of what’s possible when you combine ambition, adaptability, and authenticity.
Her accolades from publications like Forbes, Fast Company, and more validate her impact. But what makes Jess truly stand out is her willingness to keep evolving, share her journey, and uplift others as she climbs.
For many, her story is a powerful reminder that the future of tech is about vision, resilience, and building communities where innovation thrives — and Jess Mah is at the heart of that future.
