Jay Onda

Jay Onda is a prominent figure in corporate venture capital, innovation, and startups, currently serving as the Director of Strategic Investments at Yamaha Motor Ventures and Laboratories. He has a rich background that spans over 15 years in the technology and venture capital sectors, with significant experience in identifying and investing in promising startups.

Education and Early Career

Onda studied at the University of California, Berkeley, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from San Jose State University. His career includes roles at various notable organizations, such as:

• Director at Marubeni Ventures
• Venture Scout at Family Office
• Partner and Director of Strategic Investments at Docomo Capital
• Business Development Consultant at Docomo Innovations, Inc.
• Startup Investment at Orange Silicon Valley

Contributions and Focus Areas

Jay Onda is recognized for his contributions to corporate innovation and venture practices. He was a founding member of the corporate innovation and venture practice at Yamaha and has played a key role in evolving NTT Docomo's R&D group into an open innovation platform. His work has involved sourcing multiple unicorns for NTT Docomo Capital and pivoting innovation strategies to unlock value for corporate partners.

Onda is also a member of the Corporate Venture Capital Advisory Board for the National Venture Capital Association, where he advocates for best practices in innovation and corporate venturing. His expertise lies in user experience and design, which he leverages to enhance innovation within multinational corporations and accelerate startup growth.

Recent Interests

Recently, Onda has been exploring the impact of generative AI on the workforce, reflecting his ongoing commitment to integrating cutting-edge technology into corporate strategies.12