Daniel Yum

Daniel Yum is a Principal at Playground Global where supports the General Partners with sourcing, technical due diligence, and portfolio company support with a particular focus on software, automation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. He is also a software engineer and supports the portfolio companies through architecture reviews, engineering mentorship, interviews of key hires, and strategic analysis of the technology landscape.

Daniel came to Playground Global from Intel, where he played an integral role in building and shipping the first Intel Architecture-based Android Smartphone, for which he was recognized with an Intel Achievement Award. Prior to Intel, he was part of the team that built and proved out the feasibility of crosswind kite power generation at Makani Power – before it was acquired by Google/X Labs – where he was responsible for all the software, from embedded motor & flight controls to the ground station & visualization.

At the University of Waterloo, Daniel led the school’s Midnight Sun Solar Car team that set the Guinness World Record for the Longest Journey by a solar electric car. Daniel has also founded two companies, including a music search engine in the early days of the Internet while he was in highschool.

Daniel lives in his solar-powered off-grid home among the Redwoods in the Santa Cruz mountains with his family, a cat, and a flock of chickens.