Summary
Ellen Li is a designer-developer and founder with a decade of experience turning research-driven insight into product-led growth for startups and scaleups. She moved from computational cystic fibrosis research—work that contributed to early drug discovery—to leading product design and operations at Shopify during its explosive international expansion. Ellen builds cross-functional teams and self-serve growth flywheels, combining hands-on UI/frontend engineering with product strategy, experimentation, and go-to-market execution. As an indie founder she shipped Up Next, a self-sustaining macOS SaaS used by customers at Shopify, GitHub, Slack and more, and she continues to launch mission-driven ventures like 770 Don Mills. She’s particularly focused on redistributing economic opportunity, supporting independent creators, and applying first-principles thinking to new technology. Adaptable and tenacious, Ellen excels at translating complex systems into measurable activation, retention, and revenue outcomes.
10 years of coding experience
18 years of employment as a software developer
Intermediate Web Development, Intermediate Web Development at BrainStation
Improvisation (Levels A-E), Improvisation (Levels A-E) at The Second City
Bachelor of Arts and Science (B. Arts Sc.) Biochemistry and Philosophy, Bachelor of Arts and Science (B. Arts Sc.) Biochemistry and Philosophy at McMaster University
User Research User Experience, User Research User Experience at Akendi
TOPS Program Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), TOPS Program Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) at Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute
Toronto's 12000-Year History, Toronto's 12000-Year History at Hidden Rivers
Muay Thai, Muay Thai at Keatkhamtorn Bangkok