As I’ve mentioned before, the VC community has been very interested in AI startups in the last few years. A recent analyst report noted that funding in AI hit $9.3B in 2018 — an industry record. We have been part of this trend since founding Toyota AI Ventures in July 2017 and have evaluated nearly 1,500 startups during that time. From those, we have made 19 investments, including May Mobility, Sea Machines, Joby Aviation and Intuition Robotics. This averages about one deal every month. Although returns ultimately matter most, we think this pace shows that Toyota AI Ventures can run at startup clockspeeds.
We’re now looking to grow our team, and have a rare opening for an Analyst to join us in our Silicon Valley office. This position is a great long-term opportunity for someone interested in specializing in the growing AI and robotics verticals.
As Toyota’s first dedicated $100M early-stage fund, we focus on discovering what’s next for Toyota by investing in startups that are developing AI, data, and cloud technologies for autonomous mobility and robotics applications. The Analyst evaluates market trends, sources and originates contact with potential investments, and participates in due diligence, market research and valuation work. If you love data and share our vision of a world where machines amplify the human experience with AI and create a strong, even emotional, connection between us humans and machines, we’d love to talk to you.
Some additional responsibilities include:
- Updating our deal-flow platform
- Helping prepare materials for the weekly pipeline meeting
- Creating investment memos
- Building cap tables for potential investments
- Networking and taking part in select industry and VC events
One of the things we pride ourselves on is creating a founder-friendly environment so every company in our portfolio can flourish. This means that each of our team members has the financial success of all our investments in mind. As an analyst, you will need a keen entrepreneurial mindset, with an eye for investment potential, and ideally will be the type of person who gets excited when reading the latest Berkshire Hathaway annual report.
We’re also looking for strong team players, interested in helping us make valuable connections within the VC and startup community. If you have the drive and hustle to build these types of professional networks, Toyota AI Ventures can be a great, fast-moving place to grow your toolbox for becoming a great investor.
If this sounds like you, read the full job description and apply here.
