Flying into the Future: Transforming Travel with Air Taxis

Electric air taxis could transform how we navigate cities—offering faster, cleaner, and more efficient travel. But how will this cutting-edge technology redefine urban infrastructure and air mobility? 

On February 12, 6:00pm (In-person); 6:15pm PT (online)// February 13, 11:15 am JT (Online), we hosted a discussion with with Yasuyuki Kohaya, Strategic Business Relationships Lead at Joby Aviation, a global leader in air taxi development. Together, we will explored the technological, infrastructural, and investment factors shaping the future of transportation and air mobility. The discussion was moderated by Aki Ohashi, Chief of Staff at SVJP and Vice President at Evolution.

SPEAKER:
Yasuyuki (Yas) Kohaya
Yas joined Joby Aviation in 2020. Prior to joining Joby, he spent 22 years at Toyota Motor Corporation where he first began his career as a production engineer then as a product and business strategist for various projects such as Lexus, Tesla partnership, and alternative fuel vehicles strategy. He moved to the Bay Area in 2014 and helped launch Toyota Research Institute and Toyota Ventures which catapulted Toyota’s presence in the Silicon Valley community. Currently at Joby, Yas leads the Japan service business strategy in addition to managing the relationship with Toyota, a major investor and manufacturing partner to Joby.

MODERATOR:
Aki Ohashi
Aki Ohashi is Chief of Staff at SVJP and a Vice President at Evolution, a Silicon Valley-based venture firm, specializing in connecting Japanese corporations to Bay Area startups. At Evolution, Aki is responsible for fundraising, business development, deal sourcing, and other various activities related to the firm’s fund, software development, and advisory businesses. He has over 20 years of experience working in venture capital, technology R&D, and business development primarily in and between Japan and Silicon Valley.