# Jim DiSanto

> Jim DiSanto is a Silicon Valley engineer, founder, operator and investor whose career runs from early web mapping and mobile logistics to automotive systems, robotics, AI and climate technology. After co-founding Vicinity, Simplexity Wireless and KonaWare, and working with Beijing-based Yamei Electronics, he co-founded Motus Ventures, where he now focuses on AI, climate tech and deep tech.

- **Role:** Co-founder and Managing Partner at Motus Ventures
- **Organizations:** Motus Ventures, KonaWare, Digisec/Yamei Electronics, Simplexity Wireless, Vicinity Corporation, Asset Management Ventures, Quanergy Systems
- **Education:** B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and B.S. in Computer Engineering, University of Michigan, MBA, Stanford University
- **Known for:** Co-founded Vicinity Corporation, an early web location-services company that went public in 2000 and was acquired by Microsoft in 2002., Co-founded and led KonaWare, a mobile applications company serving transportation and logistics, through its sale to Yamei Electronics., Built automotive-industry partnerships while serving as a board director and general manager at Yamei Electronics in Beijing.

## Career timeline

- **1995-1997** — Co-founded Vicinity Corporation and served in sales and business development; Vicinity later went public in 2000 and was acquired by Microsoft in 2002 for MapPoint.
- **1999-2003** — Served as vice president of business and corporate development and as a director at Simplexity Wireless.
- **2004-2008** — Served as chairman and CEO of KonaWare, which built mobile applications for transportation and logistics.
- **2008-2012** — Served as board director and general manager of Digisec/Yamei Electronics in Beijing; Yamei was acquired by Trimble Navigation in 2011.
- **2011-2012** — Worked as an entrepreneur in residence at Asset Management Ventures.
- **2012-present** — Co-founded Motus Ventures and serves as managing partner, investing across AI, climate tech, robotics and deep tech.
- **2013-2015; 2018-2023** — Served during documented periods on the board of Quanergy Systems, including after its 2022 public-company combination.
- **2023** — Motus Ventures announced the initial closing of Smart World Innovation Fund II and expanded its climate-tech initiatives.
- **2024** — Participated as a Q&A leader at a Menlo Park innovation review on lower-carbon data centers.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Vicinity Corporation, an early web location-services company that went public in 2000 and was acquired by Microsoft in 2002.
- Co-founded and led KonaWare, a mobile applications company serving transportation and logistics, through its sale to Yamei Electronics.
- Built automotive-industry partnerships while serving as a board director and general manager at Yamei Electronics in Beijing.
- Co-founded Motus Ventures, an early-stage investment firm focused on AI, climate tech and deep tech.
- Served as a board member, observer or advisor to companies including Waze, Autotalks, Quanergy, Doorman, Metawave and Argus Cyber Security.
- Built commercialization collaborations with research groups at University of California campuses, Stanford, the University of Michigan and PARC.

## Latest updates

- **2024-09** — Joined an innovation review on reducing the carbon footprint of data centers at SRI International in Menlo Park as a discussion leader.
- **2023-12** — Published 'Ammonia is the New Oil' on the Motus Ventures blog.
- **2023-08** — Motus Ventures announced the initial closing of Smart World Innovation Fund II and new climate-tech partnerships and initiatives.

## Links

- Website: https://motusventures.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-disanto-60a1039

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/jim-disanto
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-18