JCCNC NEWS

Please tell us what Beep does.

Beep, Inc. delivers the next generation of autonomous mobility networks through its AutonomOS™ mobility operating system and mobility-as-a-service offerings. Specializing in planning, deploying, and managing autonomous transportation systems, Beep connects people, places, goods, and services with solutions designed to improve safety, reduce congestion, and expand access to mobility. Leveraging artificial intelligence and real-world operational experience, Beep's U.S.-domiciled, human-in-the-loop platform enables scalable and reliable autonomous transit deployments across public and private communities.

Are you interested in the Japanese market?

Very much so. Japan has an aging population and significant mobility gaps in suburban and rural areas. Autonomous mobility technology can deliver great value in this area. Precision, reliability, and safety is critical for the safe deployment of autonomous mobility, and we see a compelling opportunity to bring our operational model there through the right partnerships.

What do you expect from Japanese companies when collaborating with Beep?

We look for partners who bring deep local knowledge, regulatory relationships, community trust, and infrastructure context that we cannot replicate from the outside. The cultural emphasis on long-term thinking and operational excellence is a natural fit for how we build deployments. Beep provides the autonomous mobility expertise; the partner provides the local foundation. Together, that is a powerful combination.

Currently Beep is operating in Walnut Creek in the Bay Area.  Do you have a plan to start operations in San Francisco?

Early in the company, we piloted autonomous mobility in several places in California – including San Francisco, Palo Alto, and San Ramon.  We are always evaluating where our technology can make the greatest impact. California, with its forward-thinking approach to autonomous vehicles, is an excellent opportunity to use autonomous mobility to fill mobility gaps and reduce traffic on some of the most congested roadways in America.

We learned that Beep is your 7th startup company.  You were already very successful, but why did you start Beep?

Transportation is the backbone of economic opportunity, healthcare access, and quality of life, and the infrastructure we rely on was built for a different era. When autonomous vehicle technology reached the point where real deployment was possible, I saw a critical gap — not in the vehicles or the technology itself, but in the operational layer needed to orchestrate all of it: the vehicles, the technology systems, and the intelligent transportation infrastructure into a single integrated deployment. That is the missing piece that turns promising technology into a functioning network people can rely on. That urgency and opportunity — shown to me by my father, who was a public transit professional — is what drove me to start Beep.

Many first-time riders feel a bit anxious when stepping onto an autonomous shuttle. What was going through your mind during your very first ride on a Beep shuttle?  Also, what is the most rewarding feedback you have ever received from a passenger?

When I ride an autonomous vehicle, I want to be amazed by how normal and natural it feels. We don’t aim for our rides to be exciting. We aim for them to be safe and reliable so that you can focus on reading a book, catching up on emails, relaxing, or thinking about your next destination, rather than how you’re getting there.  We have collected a lot of interesting data over our dozens of deployments, including rider feedback. One of our demonstrations in Metro Atlanta led to an expanded network, and the success of our pilot there played a major role in that evolution.  Out of more than 11,000 riders, 90 percent reported having a good experience, 93 percent felt safe, and 87 percent supported seeing expanded service. These are incredibly encouraging results from a pilot, and that is an example of why we have been successful in transitioning our customers from temporary demonstrations to long-term networks.

Silicon Valley is often viewed as the ultimate tech hub, but Orlando, Florida where Beep headquarters has experienced an incredible tech ecosystem boom.  What makes Orlando unique, and how does its corporate culture or work environment differ from what we see on the West Coast?

Lake Nona is a purpose-designed innovation district with real smart city infrastructure, and it is not an accident that it has become a serious tech hub. The culture is collaborative, the talent is exceptional, and the quality of life keeps our team engaged and productive as part of the community. The proximity to Orlando, with a major airport, major professional sports franchise, dense urban population, and interest in adjacent technology such as advanced air mobility, is a strong benefit.  Lake Nona is a wonderful and natural home for Beep and so many other innovators.

Could you tell us a bit about your background and personal journey?

I have spent my career at the intersection of business and emerging technology, building companies across enterprise software, logistics, and communications. The constant across all of them is a belief that the best businesses solve real problems for real people.

To completely unplug and recharge, how do you like to spend your weekends?  Do you have any favorite hobbies or routines that are essential for resetting your mind and body?

My hobbies include soccer, motorsports and automobiles in general, but as I’ve gotten older they tend to be things I watch rather than participate in. To clear my head I enjoy road biking and find myself doing 20-50 miles a ride. I think everyone should have routines to alleviate the mental stress of professional life.

This interview will be read by many Japanese business leaders and professionals who are pushing boundaries here in the Bay Area.  As a seasoned serial entrepreneur driving global innovation, what inspiring message or piece of advice would you like to share with them?

Do not be afraid of trying to solve an audacious problem – these efforts often lead to the most transformative and enduring successes – but be strategic.  We built Beep to fulfill a purpose rather than sell a specific product. The technology sector, particularly autonomous technology, has developed so rapidly that building a business around a static product can make your business obsolete quickly.  Our goal was to (1) demonstrate that autonomous mobility can solve real problems around roadway safety and transportation gaps, (2) cultivate deep partnerships with vehicle and technology manufacturers to ensure we could bring the best solutions to market at any given time, and (3) build a continually-improving service management platform that can unify the key elements of an autonomous mobility ecosystem and accommodate emerging technology that can strengthen these networks.