Team

Rick Johnson is a General Partner at Kyocera Ventures, where he leads investments across semiconductors, mobility, and advanced communications. He brings more than two decades of executive experience in the wireless and semiconductor industries, combining financial leadership with deep operating insight.

Rick began his career at Intel, serving as Controller from 1997 to 2002. He went on to become CFO of Tarari, an Intel spin-out focused on content processing semiconductors, where he helped scale the business through its successful acquisition by LSI in 2007. From 2008 to 2018, Rick was CFO of Ethertronics, the leading developer of high-performance embedded antennas for mobile and wireless devices. During his tenure, Ethertronics expanded its patented IMD™ antenna technology globally before being acquired.

Most recently, Rick served as VP of Corporate Development at Kyocera AVX, where he helped shape the company’s strategic growth initiatives before co-founding Kyocera Ventures.

Kenji Kodomari is a General Partner at Kyocera Ventures, bringing more than 25 years of global experience in M&A, venture investment, and business reorganization across the electronic components industry. He has led transactions and investments worldwide, combining rigorous financial, legal, and operational diligence with hands-on management capability.

Before co-founding Kyocera Ventures, Kenji served as General Manager of Investment at Kyocera Corporation in Japan, where he oversaw strategic startup and VC investments globally. In 2021, he relocated to the United States to expand Kyocera’s venture and corporate development activities, taking on leadership roles at Kyocera AVX as Senior Director of Strategic Planning alongside his role as General Partner at Kyocera Ventures.

Kenji is recognized for his ability to bridge cultures and business practices between Japan and the U.S., helping founders and global teams navigate cross-border growth and partnerships.

Laurent Desclos is a Partner at Kyocera Ventures and Vice President of R&D and Technology at Kyocera. An IEEE Fellow and inventor with more than 210 patents, Laurent brings a rare combination of deep technical expertise and global leadership in the wireless and semiconductor industries.

Laurent began his career as a research engineer at NEC Corporation in Tokyo (1992–2000) before co-founding Ethertronics in California. Over nearly two decades, he helped grow Ethertronics from a small engineering team into a global leader in advanced antenna systems, serving as CTO, COO, and ultimately President and CEO. In building the company, he established and managed business and manufacturing units around the world — living in China, South Korea, and Taiwan to directly lead operations, support customers, and build high-performing teams. Passionate about applied research, Laurent has led multidisciplinary innovation spanning antennas, silicon chips, algorithms, and system integration. His work reflects a strong belief that practical research, combined with entrepreneurial drive, can transform industries.

Laurent holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from INSA Rennes.

Shiva Chandra is a Senior Associate at Kyocera Ventures, where he focuses on early-stage investments across deep tech and sustainability. He brings a strong background in project finance, credit analysis, and complex stakeholder negotiations, honed through his prior experience in global banking.

Before joining Kyocera Ventures, Shiva spent six years at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (2016–2022), where he advanced from Analyst to Vice President in the project finance group. His work centered on renewable energy and infrastructure, managing a portfolio of over $600 million in exposure. He specialized in complex credit assessments and negotiations, stress testing major energy projects against regulatory and market shifts, and leading portfolio assessments across multi-stakeholder syndicates.

Shiva transitioned into venture capital while in business school. He interned with Arctaris Impact Investors, focusing on growth-stage impact opportunities, and served as Co-Head of Sourcing & Diligence for the Tarrson Fund, leading investment evaluation and founder engagement. These experiences cemented his commitment to partnering with entrepreneurs at the earliest stages.

Shiva holds a B.A. in Finance, is a CFA charterholder, and earned his MBA from Chicago Booth.

Al Schuele is a Venture Advisor to Kyocera Ventures and a seasoned high-tech executive with more than 30 years of semiconductor industry experience, including extensive work across Asia. He previously served as a General Partner at Sevin Rosen Funds, where he led investments in semiconductors, telecommunications, energy technology, and nanotechnology.

Al’s operating career spans leadership roles at several semiconductor companies. He was CEO of Benchmarq Microelectronics, guiding the company through the Asian financial crisis and negotiating its merger with Unitrode Corp., where he became President and COO. Earlier, he held senior roles at Crystal Semiconductor — including General Manager of its $100M industrial products division and VP of Worldwide Sales — and at Mostek, where he served as Director of International Marketing and President of Mostek Asia while based in Hong Kong.

Beyond semiconductors, Al has served on multiple boards, including solar innovator Innovalight (acquired by DuPont in 2011). Earlier in his career, he was a U.S. Marine Corps attack pilot, completing 100 carrier landings on the USS Independence.

Al holds a B.A. in Physics from Western Maryland College.