Ian Villa

Ian Villa is a technology executive and entrepreneur currently serving as the COO and Chief Product Officer at Whisper Aero, a company developing cleaner, quieter, and more efficient electric propulsion systems for various applications including drones, aircraft, and leaf blowers.12

In addition to his primary role at Whisper Aero, Ian Villa holds several other positions:

1. Advisory Board member at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (since April 2023)1
2. Board Member at Cumberland County Playhouse, Inc. (since 2023)1

Prior to his current roles, Ian has had an extensive career in the aviation and technology sectors:

Professional Experience

Uber:

• Held multiple leadership positions from 2017 to 2021, including:
  • Head of Strategy for aviation
  • Head of System Simulation
  • Vehicle Partner & Strategic Modeling Lead
  • Vehicle Systems Performance Engineer1

Joby Aviation:

• Briefly served as Product Strategy Lead in January 20211

Other Roles:

• Industry Mentor at Starburst Aerospace (2021-2022)
• Deep Tech Founding Fellow at On Deck (2021-2022)
• Intern at Lockheed Martin (2014)
• Co-founder of BluFlame Technology, Inc. (2011-2013)1

Education

Ian Villa attended Stanford University, though his specific degree is not mentioned in the provided information.1

Entrepreneurial Background

Ian attributes his entrepreneurial spirit to his upbringing, mentioning that his parents were in finance and his father ran his own business. He recalls experiences from his youth, such as making cold calls and preparing reports, which he believes contributed to his current path in entrepreneurship and technology.2

Ian Villa is known for his expertise in aviation, product development, and strategy. His current focus at Whisper Aero involves developing innovative propulsion technologies for various applications in the aerospace industry.12