• Comment: The article does not explain what Yoshi Mobility is or what it does. Additionally, all sources except for VentureBeat are press releases or routine coverage of the company with barely surface-level coverage. Reconrabbit 17:23, 18 August 2024 (UTC)


Yoshi Mobility is a tech-enabled last-mile delivery company that is focused on car care services for fleet customers headquartered in Nashville, TN. The company provides mobile car care services - fueling, preventative maintenance, virtual inspections, and EV charging - to fleets in the United States.

History

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Yoshi was founded in 2015 by Bryan Frist, Nick Alexander, Dan Hunter, and David Gobaud. Bryan Frist and Nick Alexander were weeks away from graduation from Harvard Business School when they started the Company.[1]

Bryan Frist is the current CEO of the Company and the son of former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. Yoshi Mobility went through Y Combinator in the summer of 2016 and raised its $2.1 million seed from investors including Joe Montana, Zhen Fund, and Shikra Limited.[2][3]

In 2018, General Motors and ExxonMobil led a $13.7 million Series A with investors including Y Combinator, Kevin Durant, and AAF Fund.[4] In 2020, General Motors led the $23 million Series B bringing the total raised to $38 million.[5] In 2022, Bridgestone announced an undisclosed investment in the Company.[6] In April 2024, the Company announced its $26 million Series C in TechCrunch, valuing the company at "over $200 million."[7]

Growth Beyond Gas

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In March 2024, the company announced that it had acquired Mobile Auto Concepts Inc, a full suite mobile automotive services company that specializes in tire car and replacement, preventative maintenance, multipoint inspections, eco-friendly washes and more.[8] “They’re outstanding operators with decades of deep automotive experience,” Bryan Frist said. “This investment demonstrates our continued commitment to expanding our suite of services to address the real pain points of our fleet and enterprise customers nationwide.”[9]

This marked an evolution of the company beyond just gas, as the company defined itself by three main service lines: preventative maintenance, virtual vehicle inspections and electric vehicle charging.[10]

EV Future

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In August 2022, Yoshi Mobility received a grant from the state of Michigan for a "first-of-its-kind consumer EV use case" at the Detroit Smart Parking Lab. Governor Gretchen Whitmer said of the grant, "Michigan continues to invest in innovative mobility solutions that will position our state for long-term economic success and empower us to continue leading the future of accessible, sustainable transportation. Our long legacy of automotive experience, combined with the cutting-edge work being done by today’s grant recipients at the Detroit Smart Parking Lab will ensure safer, more sustainable mobility solutions for all."[11]

In May 2024, the Company announced its EV capabilities in Forbes, including a first-of-its-kind "super charger on wheels" (240kW DC fast chargers).[12] The Company plans to launch these in early 2025 with select partners.

References

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  1. ^ "Accelerating a Gas-on-demand Startup". Harvard Business School Alumni. 2019-12-01. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  2. ^ Kolodny, Lora (2016-07-11). "Yoshi launches "set it and forget it" vehicle re-fueling service in San Francisco". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  3. ^ "Yoshi fuels and services your car while you're at work". Y Combinator. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  4. ^ "GM and ExxonMobil lead $13.7 million investment in on-demand car care startup Yoshi". VentureBeat. 2018-02-07. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  5. ^ Wayland, Michael (2020-12-17). "GM leads $23 million investment in on-demand vehicle maintenance service Yoshi". CNBC. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  6. ^ "Press Release Details". www.bridgestoneamericas.com. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  7. ^ Hall, Christine (2024-04-10). "Yoshi Mobility has come a long way since gassing up cars on the side of the road". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  8. ^ DiPaolo, Rich (2024-03-25). "Yoshi Mobility acquires Mobile Auto Concepts". Professional Carwashing & Detailing. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  9. ^ "Yoshi Mobility boosts West Coast presence with acquisition of MACi". Auto Remarketing. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  10. ^ Hall, Christine (2024-04-10). "Yoshi Mobility has come a long way since gassing up cars on the side of the road". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  11. ^ "Grants for Testing at Detroit Smart Parking Lab will Drive Electrified, Accessible and Safe Mobility Ecosystem Development | Michigan Business". Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  12. ^ Garsten, Ed. "Yoshi Mobility Brings Mobile EV Charging To Fleets". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-06-08.