{"id":"b6890345-0dc1-4c24-84bd-2ccf28ea8d55","slug":"tian-yu","name":"Tian Yu","bioBrief":"Founder & CEO of [AutoFlight](/companies/autoflight), a Shanghai-based eVTOL aircraft developer backed by $100M+ in funding. Previously founded Chinese drone maker [Yuneec](/companies/yuneec). A 35-year aviation engineer with 300+ patents, Tian Yu holds FAA fixed-wing and helicopter pilot licenses.","priorExits":null,"nationality":"Chinese","verificationPosture":"reported","aliases":[],"sources":[{"url":"https://theaircurrent.com/industry-strategy/autoflight-tests-globalizations-limits-with-strategy-for-affordable-evtols/","title":"AutoFlight tests globalization's limits","sourceName":"The Air Current"},{"url":"https://electrek.co/2022/01/27/autoflight-shares-prosperity-i-evtol-air-taxi-proof-of-concept/","title":"AutoFlight shares Prosperity I eVTOL air taxi proof of concept","sourceName":"Electrek"},{"url":"https://lowaltitudeeconomy.aero/en/evtol-news-and-electric-aircraft-news/low-altitude-economy/whos-who-in-chinas-low-altitude-economy-the-men-and-women-shaping-the-worlds-largest-low-altitude-economy","title":"Who's Who in China's Low-Altitude Economy","sourceName":"Low Altitude Economy"},{"url":"https://evtol.news/news/autoflight-unveiled-v400","title":"AutoFlight Unveiled V400 eVTOL","sourceName":"eVTOL.news"}],"reviewStatus":"reviewed","createdAt":"2026-08-18T03:56:25.916Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-18T21:23:49.282Z","educations":[],"companyRoles":[{"id":"66b7f539-edf8-4bfc-854d-ee40fe0e2165","personId":"b6890345-0dc1-4c24-84bd-2ccf28ea8d55","companyId":"b5908b0b-823b-46ab-9c73-f73061fd1925","role":"ceo","roleTitle":"Founder & CEO","startDate":null,"endDate":null,"currentRole":true,"roleBasis":"verified_secondary","displayOrder":null,"createdAt":"2026-08-18T03:56:26.686Z","company":{"slug":"autoflight","name":"AutoFlight"}},{"id":"47d5b99c-4cbe-480f-968b-9c21805a9e4d","personId":"b6890345-0dc1-4c24-84bd-2ccf28ea8d55","companyId":"5fc12f22-7ecd-4c41-b249-7180f42876a7","role":"founder","roleTitle":"Founder","startDate":null,"endDate":null,"currentRole":false,"roleBasis":"verified_secondary","displayOrder":null,"createdAt":"2026-08-18T21:23:48.903Z","company":{"slug":"yuneec","name":"Yuneec"}}],"boardRoles":[],"investorRoles":[],"foundings":[{"id":"4c52a931-867b-4e1b-ae16-0f4160224a4e","personId":"b6890345-0dc1-4c24-84bd-2ccf28ea8d55","companyId":"b5908b0b-823b-46ab-9c73-f73061fd1925","foundingDate":"2019-01-01T00:00:00.000Z","cofounderStatus":"sole","stillAtCompany":true,"createdAt":"2026-08-18T21:23:48.149Z","company":{"slug":"autoflight","name":"AutoFlight"}},{"id":"be18f6d3-d2d8-4dd9-b549-fc4d956df425","personId":"b6890345-0dc1-4c24-84bd-2ccf28ea8d55","companyId":"5fc12f22-7ecd-4c41-b249-7180f42876a7","foundingDate":null,"cofounderStatus":"sole","stillAtCompany":false,"createdAt":"2026-08-18T21:23:48.528Z","company":{"slug":"yuneec","name":"Yuneec"}}]}