Step Into Eliza Wu’s Corner of the World
Written by Daphne Bryant
Corner is a new social media app that turns your memories into recommendations that you can share with your friends. We got to sit down with Eliza Wu, one of Corner’s cofounders, and chatted about women in tech, immigrant legacies, community-building, and so much more! read our interview with eliza below!
Q1: Hi Eliza! I’m sooo excited about this interview. First things first: where did you (and your co-founder Jake) get the idea for Corner?
A: I’m so excited too! I’m obsessed with what you guys have built at Dreamworldgirl. We came to the idea of Corner in almost the exact same way, before we even met. Jake and I are both immigrant kids of small business owners. Coming out of Covid lockdowns, Jake (in Toronto) and I (in San Francisco) were trying to figure out what we could build to help local small businesses survive. Through talking to my local hair salon, cafe, bakery, sandwich shop, I learned the common thread was that their best customers were keeping them alive through telling their friends, families, and coworkers to support them. It suddenly clicked that we have Google Maps for strangers’ opinions and IG / Tiktok for influencers but no app where friends go to share recs. Once we met and started brainstorming, we realized we both had the same vision of building a map that was personalized for you and your friends.
Q2: For someone who is brand new to Corner, can you explain exactly how the app works?
A: It’s the first map that is social and completely personalized based on your own taste and vibes. You build a cute aesthetic profile, make cool playlists of places, save places you want to try and rate places based on if you loved, liked, or disliked it. We use that data to understand your vibes and taste. We see if you like mid century modern interiors vs chic vs rustic, if you’re a vintage thrift girlie vs a brand name shopper, or if you’re a dive bar vs upscale cocktail bar type of girlie. Then when you’re searching for places, you can type in anything you’re in the mood for and tag your friends. You could ask something like“ where should Daphne and Eliza go for girls night drinks” we look through all of the options in the area and recommend the ones that match both our vibes, our friends have liked, or are trending in the city. You can go to Paris or Tokyo and search for anything and we’ll take your taste profile to figure out where you’d go if you were a local there.
Q3: So navigating a city can be difficult, but Corner makes it much easier (and much more fun)! I think a big reason why is because the aesthetic and branding is so warm and inviting. How did your team come up with Corner’s“ look and feel”?
A: Eek thank you! The look is truly the merging of Jake and my taste. We’re both very opinionated on aesthetics and obsessive over simplicity and function. But the feel of it is due to our incredible, amazing, fucking awesome engineering team. They pour their hearts into making every transition and animation feel right.
Q4: I must admit, I did some stalking! Your LinkedIn bio says“ no one under the age of 30 writes reviews on Google Maps, Yelp, or TripAdvisor, but they are on Corner.” In what ways does the app cater to Gen-Z?
A: Older generations are obsessed with“ the best” but Gen Z cares way more about nuance and personalization. There is no such thing as a 5 star cocktail bar because it could be 5 stars for romantic date night but 1 star for a rowdy pre-game or to meet new people. We believe every business is good for something and it's our job to recommend them to you when you’re in the mood for that something. The language Gen Z uses is also very different, so we need to describe places using language that makes sense to them. The rate at which Gen Z invents new language is insane – on Corner, you could search“ best cafes to meet a performative male” and we’ll know exactly what that means.
Q5:I also saw in another interview that Corner aims to move away from the negativity and complaints of traditional review platforms, as the review landscape is currently biased against immigrant businesses. Can you talk a little bit about your experience as the daughter of immigrant business owners?
A: My first job at 14 was at my mom’s Chinese restaurant in New Orleans. On Yelp, they had bad reviews – the decor was ornate and very Chinese, the menu items were foreign, the food tasted like what you’d find in China. It was very authentically Chinese, not white washed. It could have been the best Chinese restaurant for local Chinese immigrants looking for a taste of home. Instead, it was perceived as a ‘meh’ Chinese restaurant for a very white clientele. The restaurant failed and we flushed a massive chunk of our family savings down the toilet. For many immigrants, opening a small business is the American Dream. We’re building a future where businesses can focus on doing what they love and Corner can help them get discovered by their people.
Q6: As the daughter of an immigrant mom myself, I really love and resonate with your mission. Corner has achieved so much in such a short amount of time, which is really inspiring! Do you ever feel like you’re a role model for other young women of color (spoiler alert: you are)!
A: Oh my god…my heart just melted! I don’t actively think of myself as one but it’s an out of body experience when people tell me that. When I was in finance, my role models were mostly men. I used to try and shed all signs of my femininity to fit into the boy’s club. But I’m a deeply emotional person. My family, friends, relationships, and being a mother one day are huge priorities. I hope when younger women and girls look at me, they see that you can still be a girl and run a massive company and change the world.
Q7: Apparently Corner knows how to throw a party! You’ve thrown functions everywhere from San Francisco to New York City! What’s been your favorite Corner event or partnership thus far?
A: Our welcome to New York party (March 2025) was how I imagine a wedding must feel like. Everything was perfect and the energy was electric. Everyone was talking, mingling, and having a great time. Afterwards, many of the guests told us they were shocked because apparently most of these brand parties are just influencers standing around and taking pics. It was extra special because we hosted it at my friends’ creative studio, Earshot, in Soho and it’s always fun collabing with friends. Shout out to our Creative Lead Annie who crushed every detail from the guest list to the goody bags.
Q8: The Corner team is pretty small (only eight of you)! What are some of the pros of having a smaller, more intimate team in tech?
A: It’s hard to put into words the deep level of respect and admiration I have for my team. I believe they are the top 5% of their craft in the world and there will be books written about a lot of them one day. I love our current size because it lets us move so quickly and lets each person truly own their part of the business. I love high ownership cultures because everything is out on the table and for better or for worse, there is nowhere to hide!
Q9: Okay, time for some recommendation questions! What are some of your personal favorite spots on Corner?
A: Treat myself: Mxdin – watermelon juice matcha is my favorite drink on earth.
Where I get all of my unique closet staples: tumbao, roome, flying solo – all curations of super niche, up and coming designers from around the world.
Most shocked by: Lei – incredible wine menu + fusion menu but the ingredients and flavors are straight out of my grandma’s kitchen.
My most peaceful place: Elizabeth street garden.
Most romantic place: Casino – in an alternate universe, this would be me if i were a french restaurant instead of a human.
Q10: On that same vein, what are some spots you want to visit for the first time?
A: I am obsessed with well designed spaces with a unique perspective. So much goes into crafting a physical space that elicits certain emotions and memories for its guests. I have a list called interior drip which is where I save the most beautifully designed spaces that I want to visit. Anytime I'm traveling, I'll check the list to see if there is something nearby.
Q11: What do you think it is about Corner that people gravitate towards, the secret ingredient if you will?
A: We’re extremely picky about hiring people who see the world in a way that we admire. Every single screen in the app, line of code, instagram post, line of copy, and even the physical space we work in is designed with soul and intention. People have a high BS detector, so when you’re building something with integrity and authenticity, people naturally gravitate.
Q12: Finally, what advice would you give to someone hoping to start their own community-building platform?
A: Build a community first. Whether it’s on twitter, ig, tiktok, or IRL. You can’t build a platform for communities if you don’t know what it’s like to build one yourself. Communities and growth have opposing principles. There are no shortcuts to building something real that lasts the test of time. Build WITH your community. Many of the “mistakes” we had were a result of not consulting the very demographic we were building for. This summer, our team conducted 60+ user interviews within the span of two weeks and it’s allowed us to build the current iteration of the app which we are super proud of and feels right. Also study everyone and everything, not just the ones you admire. Anytime anyone wants to trash talk another company or founder, I redirect them to think about what they did right and how you can apply those principles to your own work.
