Deliveroo CEO Will Shu has announced his decision to step down, closing a remarkable chapter in modern entrepreneurship. What began as a late-night craving during 100-hour workweeks on Wall Street evolved into a global food delivery powerhouse—one now valued at nearly $4 billion. With DoorDash acquiring Deliveroo, Shu will exit with a windfall of approximately $250 million.

A Craving That Sparked a Movement

In 2013, while working as an investment banker at JPMorgan in London, Shu grew frustrated with the lack of late-night delivery options. Rather than settle for supermarket sandwiches, he seized the opportunity. His solution became Deliveroo, a company that started with Shu himself biking orders across London.

Building Through Challenges

Over the past decade, Shu transformed Deliveroo into a multinational brand. Yet the path was far from smooth. The company’s 2021 IPO stumbled, with shares plunging 30% on the first day of trading. Despite setbacks, Shu remained steadfast, guided by a simple philosophy: go all in.

“When it comes to entrepreneurship especially, you can’t hedge yourself. You have to dedicate yourself 100% to your one idea and be the person that cares about it the most,” Shu shared in a 2024 interview.

The Power of Immersion

Shu’s hands-on approach defined his leadership style. In the company’s early days, he personally delivered food to customers—often unrecognized, often dismissed. But those experiences grounded him in the reality of his business and fueled Deliveroo’s culture of grit and adaptability.

Stepping Away, Leaving a Legacy

Now, more than a decade later, Shu says the time is right to move on. “Taking Deliveroo from being an idea to what it is today has been amazing,” he told Fortune. His exit not only marks the end of his operational role but also highlights the evolution of food delivery from a local fix to a global industry worth billions.

Lessons for Entrepreneurs

Will Shu’s journey is a testament to the power of observation, resilience, and risk-taking. From late-night cravings to billion-dollar negotiations, he proved that even the simplest frustrations can spark world-changing ventures.

For Shu, food delivery was always personal. For entrepreneurs, his story is a reminder: the best ideas often start with solving your own problem—then daring to scale it for the world.