Pete Zheng

FUELED BY RESILIENCE. Pete Zheng has come a long way from growing up in poverty to becoming an experienced entrepreneur. “Young Pete would be proud of old Pete,” he reflects, acknowledging the arduous journey that has shaped him.

Despite growing up in poverty in both New York and China, Pete has fond childhood memories. He moved back to America, to Pittsburgh, when he was seven, and he spent much of his youth helping in his family’s Chinese restaurant. “The work ethic and the camaraderie spirit of meeting people and communicating were truly taught to me by working in the restaurant,” he says. This early experience instilled in him the value of hard work and the importance of human connections.

Pete’s education played a crucial role in shaping his mindset to think laterally and diversify his interests. He attended the University of Pittsburgh Honors College, where he studied Psychology, Economics, Political Science, and Business Administration. “It’s all about trial and error,” Pete explains. “You tend to realize what you’re really interested in through pure interest and experience.”

After university, Pete landed his first big career moment at Meta (formerly Facebook), working on the integrity of content across the Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, and Messenger platforms. “It was a tremendous experience working at scale,” he recalls. This role taught him foundational skills in navigating the corporate environment and understanding the politics behind it. However, Pete’s entrepreneurial drive led him to leave Meta and join a startup company called Farther Finance as their interim Head of Product.

A REVOLUTIONARY IDEA. Inspired by his parents’ restaurant business, Pete founded Subscribe Store to provide retail SMEs with the ability to generate subscription revenue. “My goal was to help SMEs by strengthening their revenue stability,” Pete explains. Subscribe Store quickly gained traction, and a partnership with Toast led to the acquisition of its IP. “It was always about creating a sustainable model for small businesses,” he says.

From the early days of Subscribe Store, Pete was impressed by the vast ecosystem set up to support entrepreneurs in America. “There’s so much support, but it can also be overwhelming,” he advises. “It’s important to have people at the table for feedback, but not so many that you lose sight of your goals.”

Throughout his career, Pete made it a priority to stay in tune with his body and avoid burnout. “I have a high tolerance for stress and work, but I always listen to my body,” he shares. “Taking breaks and walking away from the computer when needed are crucial.” This approach has helped him maintain a balance between work and personal well-being.

Pete considers his LGBTQIA+ identity a strength in business. “Diversity is always an asset,” he says. “Our unique differences bring valuable perspectives.” Pete’s resilience, developed from a young age, has been a significant advantage in his entrepreneurial journey. “Being gay taught me a lot about resilience and standing out,” he reflects.

After taking some time to product consult and serve on nonprofit boards, Pete is exploring new ventures, particularly in the AI space deriving from his experiences working on ML and AI models at Facebook and Instagram. His entrepreneurial journey is far from over, and he remains committed to innovation and making a positive social impact. “It’s all about being proactive and thinking laterally,” he says. “Success is not a straight path; it’s full of curves, peaks, traps—and lateral movements.” Throughout his journey, Pete has remained optimistic and truly values the power of human connections. “The thing that brings me the most joy is seeing people smile,” he says. “I know it’s cheesy, but I truly believe that positivity makes the world go round.”