When Jim Adler joined Toyota Motor, he had never before worked for a car company. But Adler had something Toyota wanted badly: experience in venture capital.
Toyota (ticker: TM) gave him a mandate to find start-ups that might pay off. Since 2017, Toyota has committed $200 million in funding for start-ups, including backing for electric air taxis (Joby Aviation), robotic furniture (Bumblebee Spaces), and software for “autonomous vessels” (Sea Machines).
Image: Illustration by Lars Leetaru - https://www.barrons.com
