Wendy Yu is the founder of YU Holdings and the initiator of the YU PRIZE, and sits on the board of Mengtian Home Group. Her investment and philanthropic work has made her one of the most prominent private supporters of China's creative industries, spanning fashion, film and contemporary art.

She serves on the Met Gala committee, on the board of the UCCA Foundation, and on the youth advisory council of Teach For China. As an international ambassador for the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, she has worked to connect Chinese designers with the French couture system. She also partnered with BAFTA to launch its China programme supporting emerging talent in film and television.

The YU PRIZE is her most direct intervention. Presented with Shanghai Fashion Week and the FHCM, it identifies and funds early-career Chinese designers, building a bridge between emerging local talent and the global fashion establishment.