Yoshi

Yoshi, now known as Yoshi Mobility, was founded in 2015 by Bryan Frist, Nick Alexander, and Dan Hunter. The initial concept was a direct-to-consumer gasoline delivery service, aiming to eliminate the need for customers to visit gas stations. Bryan Frist, the current CEO, graduated from Harvard Business School and previously co-founded a hospital company in China. Nick Alexander, who studied computer engineering, had prior startup experience, having sold his first company, Freshplum, before attending Harvard Business School. Dan Hunter is described as a "mechanical genius" who built the first fuel delivery truck for the company.

The company launched in Palo Alto in the summer of 2015 and quickly expanded to Nashville. A pivotal moment came in 2016 when Yoshi was accepted into the Y Combinator accelerator program, which helped shift its focus from solely gas delivery to a comprehensive mobile car care provider. This evolution led to the addition of services such as oil changes, car washes, and wiper blade replacements, accessible through the Yoshi app. The business operates on a subscription model, where members pay a monthly fee in addition to the cost of services, though non-members can also use the services at a different rate. It serves individual consumers, corporate clients offering the service as an employee benefit, and fleet operators.

Yoshi has secured significant investments from major corporations, including ExxonMobil, General Motors Ventures, and Bridgestone, as well as from notable individuals like Kevin Durant and Joe Montana. Over the years, the company has raised over $60 million in funding, with a Series C round of $26 million in 2024 valuing the company at over $200 million. The company has expanded its services to include virtual vehicle inspections in partnership with companies like Uber and Turo, and mobile charging for electric vehicles (EVs). The mobile EV charging solution is a key area of growth, designed to electrify entire parking lots for large fleets and corporate campuses. In 2024, Yoshi acquired Mobile Auto Concepts Inc. to further bolster its preventative maintenance and tire care services.

Keywords: mobile car care, gas delivery, vehicle maintenance, EV charging, fleet services, subscription service, automotive technology, virtual vehicle inspection, on-demand service, car care