At COO (Boardroom Media) we track over 1,000,000 startups and over 5,000,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top California based COO’ operating in the Transportation space. If you think a COO’ is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on [email protected].
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Wei Luo
COO & Head of Product of DeepMap
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About DeepMap: DeepMap is accelerating safe autonomy by providing the world’s best autonomous mapping and localization solutions.
Vivek Garg
Co-Founder & COO of Zum
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About Zum: Zūm provides child transportation for school districts and busy families.
Zaizhuang Cheng
COO, Co-founder of Spin
Zaizhuang Cheng is co-founder at Skinny Labs, also known as Spin. He was a lead software engineer at Disqus before he co-founded the company with Derrick and Euwyn. Zaizhuang is a Stanford University graduate, holding a master’s degree in Management Science and Engineering.
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About Spin: Spin is a stationless electric scooter company that provides dockless mobility systems.
Jewel Li
COO of AutoX
Jewel Zhuo Li is the COO of AutoX, a startup creating full-stack A.I. software solution for autonomous driving. An expert in A.I. and machine learning, Dr. Li was a postdoc researcher at IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center and received her PhD from the University of Delaware.
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About AutoX: AutoX is a self-driving car startup that offers AI drivers to enable universal access to transportation for the people.
Maki Kaplinsky
COO/Cofounder of ASKA dba NFT Inc.
Maki Kaplinsky is a serial entrepreneur, Cofounder and CEO of NFT Inc. NFT is a Silicon Valley-based start-up focused on future mobility and developing the ASKA™, a door-to-door, electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) flying car that drives like a car on the road, and flies like a plane. Maki’s previous start-up IQP Corporation, was an early innovator in the Internet of Things and sold to GE in 2017.
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About ASKA dba NFT Inc.: Developer of the ASKA™ eVTOL drive and fly vehicle
Tom Muniz
COO of Archer Aviation
Tom Muniz is the Chief Operating Officer at Archer Aviation.
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About Archer Aviation: Archer Aviation aims to accelerate the benefits of sustainable air mobility.
Paz Eshel
Co-Founder & COO of Kodiak Robotics
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About Kodiak Robotics: Kodiak Robotics develops autonomous technology for long-haul trucking.
Maximiliano Casal
Co-Founder & COO of Nowports
Co-founder Nowports (YC W19 & YCG S20), a Logistics & trade SaaS platform. Max is a Software Engineer with more than 9 years of experience in different projects. Persistent, methodical & innovative.
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About Nowports: Nowports is a digital freight forwarder that automates the supply chain processes of Latin American companies.
Keith McDonnell
Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel of Trillium Secure
Keith McDonnell has over twenty-five years experience at multinational companies in the fields of consumer products, software and semiconductors as a Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel. He has a MBA from University of Southern California and JD from John Marshall Law School. Keith has lived in Asia, Europe and the United States. He is fluent in English and Mandarin.
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About Kasle, Trillium, Trillium Secure: Trillium provides in-vehicle cybersecurity protection for connected vehicles.
Giordano Sordoni
COO and Co-Founder of Xos Trucks
Giordano Sordoni is a co-founder and COO at Xos Trucks.
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About Xos Trucks: Xos Trucks specializes in the field of manufacturing fully electric commercial vehicles.
Julie Davies
COO and General Counsel of Autonomic
Julie Davies is the COO and the General Counsel at Autonomic.
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About Autonomic: Autonomic serves as a vehicle connectivity platform.
Soufiane Houri
Founder & COO of SkySelect
Entrepreneur, Product Strategist, Innovator
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About Gemnasium (acquired by Gitlab), SkySelect: SkySelect is an algorithmic purchasing system for $100B aircraft material industry
Peter Henkel
COO of Ride DNA
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About Ride DNA: Transportation Technology company aimed at innovative and patented technology
Chuma Ogunwole
Co-Founder and COO of Pyka
Chuma Ogunwole is the Chief Operating Officer at Pyka.
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About Pyka: Pyka makes technologies that make aviation safer, more affordable, and more accessible than has ever been possible in human history.
Jennifer Colvin
Co-Founder and COO of Crux Systems
Jennifer is the co-founder and COO at Crux Systems, where she oversees product strategy, marketing, and customer success. Previously, she was the head of marketing at Mojave Networks, a mobile security startup that was acquired by Sophos. Prior to Mojave Networks, Jennifer managed a global communications team at PayPal, where she published one of the most popular blogs on the PayPal developer network. She has more than 15 years of experience with product and marketing strategy, social media and content development.
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About Crux Systems: Crux Systems delivers real-time container visibility data and analytics to make the supply chain more efficient and secure.
Lindsay Pica
Co-Founder and COO of Govlaunch
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About Govlaunch: Govlaunch is the the wiki for local government innovation®
Jerome Paye
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Achates Power
Jerome Paye joined Achates Power in 2010. As the vice president of programs and operations, he is responsible for managing the company’s engine development programs with leading global OEMs. He also created and implemented the current product development system at Achates Power. Previously, Paye worked for Renault SAS as the pre-program engineering deputy director for electric vehicles. In this role, he led early product development and managed collaboration with Nissan and other global partners. Paye was also Renault’s vehicle engineering deputy director for mid-size current models, overseeing worldwide value engineering and product upgrades for the company’s largest and most profitable vehicle line — which was produced in seven facilities and was distributed in 140 countries. Paye’s more than 14 years of automotive industry experience also includes positions at Ford Motor Company. While there, he was program management leader for the Mustang and launch leader for the 2005 Mustang convertible. In addition, he worked as a production superintendent, plant vehicle team engineer and design and release engineer for North American Car product development. Paye received a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, a Master of Science degree in solid-state physics and a doctorate in physics from the École Polytechnique in France. He also completed postdoctoral research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and earned a joint manufacturing and business master’s degree from the University of Michigan.
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About Achates Power: Achates Power specializes in the fields of combustion engine development, clean diesel, and 2-stroke oil control management.
Sandra Vasconcelos
Chief Operating Officer of KidsCoolRide
Sandra Vasconcelos has over ten years of experience in finance and administration including The Ritz-Carlton providing a strong customer service oriented approach. Additionally, over the last ten years, she has demonstrated an ability to work well with schools, districts and principals as well as participating with school districts and principals during this time.
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About KidsCoolRide: KidsCoolRide, LLC offers a safe and reliable children’s transportation service for many neighborhoods within the city of San Jose.
Gary Wlassak
EVP of Operations & COO of EZER Inc.
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About EZER Inc.: EZER Delivery is a same-day freight matching marketplace that automates local delivery.
Stuart Gent
COO of LevelSeas
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About eVolution Global Partners, LevelSeas: LevelSeas.com will be the leading global marketplace for buying, selling and managing bulk ocean transportation.
Jing Feng
COO & CO-Founder of Niear
COO & CO-Founder at Niear
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About Niear, Niear: The smartest and most affordable peer to peer car sharing service.
Jing Feng
COO & CO-Founder of Niear
COO & CO-Founder at Niear
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About Niear, Niear: The smartest and most affordable peer to peer car sharing service.