Tim Kentley Klay

Tim Kentley Klay is a creative and technical entrepreneur working at the intersection of design and engineering.

Tim is currently the co-founder of HYPR, an A.I. robotics company developing next-generation scalable ecosystems for our communities and environment.

Previously, Tim founded Zoox, an autonomous mobility company acquired by Amazon. Built on Tim’s vision for what an autonomous robotaxi could be, he architected and – with a phenomenal team – developed the world’s first ground-up, vertically integrated autonomous mobility ecosystem. In 4 years, Tim built Zoox into a company valued at $3.2B, raised $800M in two rounds, hired 500 people, and filed 125 patents across software, hardware, and design. Tim sat on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Advisory Committee on Automation in Transportation and was requested to testify to the Senate House Committee on autonomous mobility policy.

Tim restored a 1958 Series II Land Rover from the frame up, his daily driver when in his hometown of Melbourne, Australia. At age 25, he founded XYZ Studios, followed by Crayon: both work globally in the creative arts. Together their work has been recognized with well over 100 awards, including 12 ranked ‘Best of The Year.’ Graduating from Camberwell Grammar School, Tim was Dux of his year in both Art and Design, receiving Premier’s Awards for each. He was accepted into the prestigious Swinburne University School of Design, graduating as Dux with Honors and recognition as ‘Most Innovative Designer.’

At the 2020 Advance Awards, the Prime Minister of Australia recognized Tim as the ‘Advance Global Australian’ and with the ‘Advance Commercial Creative Award.’ On February 11, 2023, Zoox conducted the first run of its employee shuttle service in Foster City, California, marking the first time in history a purpose-built autonomous robotaxi without traditional driving controls carried passengers on open public roads. In 2023, Time recognized Tim’s vision as a ‘Top 100 Invention’.

Tim’s motivation is to accelerate what’s possible: to lead courageous teams pioneering frontier technologies for the betterment of our communities and the environment.

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