Japan-headquartered manufacturing conglomerate Yamaha has hired Nolan Paul from US-based fruit supplier Driscoll’s to develop its agricultural technology (agtech) corporate venturing practice at its Silicon Valley innovation hub.
As head of research and development strategy and emerging technology, Paul led Driscoll’s agtech investment portfolio for four years, looking at genetics, phenotyping, automation and robotics, biologicals, plant sensing, controlled environment, post-harvest practices and data analytics.
Paul is now general manager for agricultural robotics and data at Yamaha Motor Ventures and Laboratory Silicon Valley, a subsidiary of motorised equipment maker Yamaha Motor that helps startups and entrepreneurs accelerate the development of disruptive technology.
Hiroshi Saijou, CEO of Yamaha Motor Ventures and Laboratory, said of Paul’s arrival at the end of October: “One of our focusing domains is agricultural automation and we need to get an expert to grow the seeds to plants.”
