Diana Zhou

Venture Partner

2022 - 2024

Eclipse Ventures is a Palo Alto-based venture capital firm investing in physical industries such as defense, advanced manufacturing, logistics and supply chains, and transportation with ~$4.3B Regulatory Assets Under Management as of December 31, 2021. As a Venture Partner and member of the investment team, my time was split between sourcing and partnering with start-up founders to ideate, incubate, build and invest in new businesses, and leading investments in high-growth early-stage companies, primarily in the defense, infrastructure, and transportation sectors.

Senior Director, Global Business Development

2021 - 2022

Head of Business Development for US and EU markets to deploy and deliver hyperloop infrastructure projects through public-private partnerships and advance hyperloop industry-wide efforts, reporting to the CEO. Developed and executed go-to-market strategies, and led cross-functional teams across engineering and corporate to achieve strategic objectives via organic and inorganic growth. Led Virgin Hyperloop’s Pilot Program, including structuring and negotiating project deal terms, defining market offering with technical leads, and managing relationships with logistics providers and infrastructure owners and operators. Spokesperson and advocate for the firm, speaking at conferences and events globally across the US, Canada, Mexico, UK, Finland, Spain, and France.

Director, Global Alliances and Policy

2020 - 2021

Built Virgin Hyperloop’s federal-level presence in Washington D.C. and in Brussels from the ground up, including hiring and managing VH’s first government affairs teams across both regions to develop legislative support for a new mode of transportation. Results in the US included the federal-level designation of a regulatory home for hyperloop technology and eligibility of hyperloop infrastructure projects for billions of dollars of federal financing programs. Worked closely with stakeholders within the European Commission and European Parliament, DG Move, Shift2Rail, ERA, and EASA to develop policy recommendations for government research and innovation funding opportunities.

Director, Project Strategy

2018 - 2020

Designed and launched a nationwide search for a new manufacturing and development facility, and led negotiations with state and local officials.

Manager, Market Strategy

2017 - 2018

Collaborated with senior leadership from across the company to align and drive product, business development, strategic partnerships, and marketing.

Analyst, Business Strategy

2016 - 2017

Led key strategy initiatives on business model development, fundraising, and market selection, including the Hyperloop One Global Challenge which resulted in tripling of the commercial sales pipeline.

Associate Engagement Manager

2012 - 2013

Managed consulting teams for a top-tier global management consulting firm on projects involving target acquisitions, new product rollout, regulatory and policy trends and other strategic initiatives.

Associate

2010 - 2012

Consultant

2009 - 2010