Why Yamaha Motor Ventures: Interviews, Careers, & Portfolio

Find out what makes Yamaha Motor Ventures a good place for establishing your investing career
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    Yamaha Motor Ventures Overview

    Yamaha Motor Ventures was founded in 2015 to support entrepreneurs who are pushing boundaries and creating the future.

    Based in Palo Alto, California, Yamaha Motor Ventures is backed by Yamaha Motor Company (Japan), giving it the resources of a major global company, but with the speed and flexibility of a startup.

    The firm works with innovative companies that are developing new technologies and business models. While it offers venture capital investment, its support goes beyond just funding. Yamaha Motor Ventures also provides access to Yamaha’s vehicles, technology, teams, and infrastructure, helping businesses grow and succeed.

    With a focus on nine key areas—transportation, robotics, digital health & wellness, fintech/insurtech, data & AI, agriculture, carbon management & removal, energy, and advanced materials—Yamaha Motor Ventures partners with companies looking to transform these industries.

    Led by CEO & Managing Director Kei Onishi, YMVSV is committed to working with entrepreneurs to turn bold ideas into reality and create a better future for everyone.

    Yamaha Motor Ventures logo

    Yamaha Motor Ventures AUM

    According to the most recent information on Yamaha Motor Ventures’ official website, the firm has $300 million in assets under management.

    Yamaha Motor Ventures Interview Process & Questions

    While firms often tailor their interview process for each candidate, if you’re interviewing at Yamaha Motor Ventures (or a similar firm), you can expect 4-6 rounds of interviews.

    The initial stages are generally led by junior investment staff or the HR team, with the senior members stepping in for the later rounds. This process can take several weeks to complete unless it’s part of a fast-tracked “on-cycle” or “on-campus” recruitment drive.

    Expect a variety of questions during the interview, covering fit, behavioral insights, and technical or investment-related topics.

    If you need guidance on how to prepare for such interviews, take a look at my Growth Equity Interview Guide.

    Why Yamaha Motor Ventures

    “Why this firm?” is a common but crucial interview questions

    If you’ve had the chance to connect with people from the firm, mention them during your response and highlight how those interactions left a positive impression on you.

    It’s also smart to do thorough research before your interview. A great way to get deeper insights is by listening to interviews or podcasts featuring the firm’s founders or key investors.

    For example, here’s an interview with George Kellerman, Founding Member of Yamaha Motor Ventures:

    YouTube video

    More Interviews

    Yamaha Motor Ventures Case Study

    During interviews, candidates can almost always expect to encounter a case study. It’s a key tool firms use to evaluate your technical skills and how well you can present your ideas.

    At firms like Yamaha Motor Ventures, case studies typically revolve around financial modeling and making investment recommendations. For junior positions, you might also be tested on your ability to cold call effectively.

    Need help with case study preparation? Check out our course: Growth Equity Interview Guide.

    Yamaha Motor Ventures Salary & Compensation

    Glassdoor reports that analysts at Yamaha Motor Ventures typically earn a median total pay of around $85K. However, there isn’t any updated salary information available for associate roles. Keep in mind that these numbers can differ based on factors like your level of experience and skill set.

    Analyst

    Yamaha Motor Ventures salary

    Yamaha Motor Ventures Careers, Jobs, & Internships

    If you’re looking for available positions at Yamaha Motor Ventures, visit our job board where you’ll find listings for their current openings as well as opportunities at other similar firms.

    Yamaha Motor Ventures Portfolio & Investments

    According to Crunchbase, Yamaha Motor Ventures has made 38 investments across three funds. Some of their notable deals include SVEXA, Pathway Medical, and Ridepanda.

    Notable Transaction: Gestalt Tech

    Gestalt Tech’s unified data ecosystem enables lenders of all types and sizes to leverage the full potential of their data through a modern data warehouse, significantly reducing the time and effort required for data pulls.

    What once took months and over 200 man-hours now takes less than a day. By providing real-time data insights and streamlining processes, Gestalt helps lenders save time and money while enhancing trust with key partners.

    On September 12, 2024, Gestalt Tech, a company revolutionizing data management for lenders, announced the successful closing of a $5.9 million seed round.

    The round was led by Alpha Edison and Yamaha Motor Ventures, with contributions from Alloy Labs, Newtype Ventures, Sentiero, and Long Run Capital. This latest investment brings the total funding for Gestalt to $8 million.

    Dan Barth, Principal at Yamaha Motor Ventures, expressed confidence in Gestalt’s vision and team, noting that the company is at the forefront of transforming how lenders utilize their data. He highlighted that Gestalt’s AI-powered data infrastructure offers a unified, real-time view of information, enabling financial institutions to operate more efficiently and reduce costs.

    With the additional capital, Gestalt Tech plans to further develop its unified data ecosystem, bringing more components of its solution to market.

    The company’s flagship product, the universal lending data foundation—launched in 2023—continues to gain traction across various lending segments, positioning Gestalt as a key player in modernizing data infrastructure for the financial industry.

    Next Steps

    If your goal is to join Yamaha Motor Ventures (or any investment firm) as an investment professional, my Growth Equity Interview Guide can be a valuable resource.

    Designed specifically for individuals aiming to enter the growth equity field, this self-paced course provides a solid foundation in key areas such as case studies and financial modeling—skills frequently tested in interviews.

    Give yourself a competitive edge and start preparing with the right tools to secure your target role!

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