Elisa de Martel, who stepped down as chief financial officer at Alphabet's Waymo in January, has joined self-driving startup Wayve. She will be based in Silicon Valley.
De Martel's move marks a notable shift in the autonomous vehicle sector, where talent circulation between established players and emerging startups has intensified. Her appointment at Wayve signals the London-founded company's expansion plans as it scales operations.
Wayve has positioned itself as a competitor to Waymo by developing AI-powered autonomous driving technology. The startup has secured significant funding to advance its self-driving capabilities and expand market presence.
De Martel's financial leadership experience at Waymo, one of the industry's most funded autonomous vehicle companies, brings expertise in managing complex operations and capital allocation. Her role at Wayve will likely focus on financial strategy as the company navigates growth and commercialization timelines.
The hire underscores continued competition for experienced executives in the autonomous vehicle space, where companies compete not just on technology but on securing talent with proven track records.
Drone delivery startup Zipline is negotiating a $1 billion funding round that would value the company at roughly $20 billion, nearly tripling its $7.6 billion valuation from January.
Marketing platform Noise is launching tools to help everyday people monetize content created on their smartphones. The service aims to democratize income opportunities for aspiring creators.
Heart Machine, the indie developer behind the acclaimed Hyper Light Drifter, has laid off nearly its entire staff and faces potential shutdown. The studio's future remains uncertain following the restructuring.