
John Zimmer
John Zimmer is the co-founder and former president of Lyft, the on-demand transportation company he launched with Logan Green in 2012. A Cornell University graduate, Zimmer stepped down as president in June 2023 to become vice-chair of the board, continuing to shape urban mobility.
John Zimmer's Bio
John Zimmer is the co-founder and former president of Lyft, the ride-hailing company he launched with Logan Green in 2012. Born from a college class on sustainable cities, Zimmer's interest in transportation began at Cornell University, where he studied and later graduated in 2006. Before Lyft, he and Green built Zimride, a carpooling service that evolved into the on-demand platform known today.
Initially running Lyft from a Palo Alto apartment, Zimmer helped grow the company to operate in more than 60 cities. Under his leadership, Lyft expanded from a small startup into a major transportation network, challenging traditional car ownership models and promoting shared mobility. In June 2023, Zimmer stepped down as president to become vice-chair of the board, continuing to shape the company's direction as David Risher took over as CEO.
Beyond Lyft, Zimmer is also the co-founder and CEO of Yes&, a venture focused on building consumer brands that align profit with positive social impact. His work reflects a consistent vision: reducing the number of cars on the road to create more human-centered urban spaces. Zimmer remains an active voice in the conversation about the future of cities, transportation, and responsible entrepreneurship.
Career Timeline
2002 — Entered Cornell University
Enrolled at Cornell University School of Hotel Administration
2006 — Graduated from Cornell
BS in Hotel Administration; member of Sigma Pi fraternity
2007 — Founded Zimride
Co-founded ridesharing platform for college campuses with Logan Green while working at Lehman Brothers
2012 — Launched Lyft
Introduced Lyft app for intra-city rides as a service of Zimride
2013 — Zimride renamed to Lyft
Company officially became Lyft; Zimride service sold to Enterprise Holdings
2023 — Stepped down as Lyft President
Announced in March, effective June; became vice-chair of the board
2023 — Launched Yes&
Founded new consumer business incubator focused on positive impact at scale
2025 — Yes& continues to grow
Incubating next generation of consumer brands aligned with profit and purpose