Getting around cities, especially over short distances, has always been a challenge. Beltways was founded to change that. What started as a vision from John Yuksel’s father decades ago is now a reality, thanks to John, his brother Matine, and their father Edip. Together, they’re building modular accelerating walkways designed to make urban spaces more walkable, efficient, and sustainable.
Unlike traditional moving walkways, Beltways’ system is built for high-traffic areas and can reach speeds up to 10 mph, far faster than what you see in airports. It’s designed to integrate seamlessly into cities with minimal construction, helping people move more efficiently while reducing congestion. With backgrounds in law, engineering, and supply chain operations, the Beltways team brings a mix of expertise and passion to the table, making their vision a reality.
In this interview, John Yuksel shares how he got into transportation technology, what inspired him to launch Beltways, and how their team is rethinking the future of urban mobility.
How did you become interested in transportation technology?
JY: Transportation technology caught my attention as I realized how critical mobility is to shaping cities, economies, and quality of life. Our father had a 40-year-old vision of transforming short-range transportation with modular accelerating walkways, and my brother and I saw an opportunity to bring that dream to life by tackling one of the most persistent inefficiencies in urban transit.
What inspired you to co-found a company?
JY: My brother and I co-founded Beltways to solve a problem that has gone unaddressed for decades: the lack of efficient solutions for moving people over short distances. As members of the ASME A17.1 Moving Walkway Committee, we recognized that our technology could fill this gap, and we were inspired to create a company that would not only innovate but also shape the future of pedestrian mobility.
Tell us about your team: Who’s on it, and how did you meet?
JY: Beltways is led by myself, my father (Edip), and my brother, Matine. I’m a California-licensed attorney with experience in cross-border investment, Edip is a serial inventor and Entrepreneurship/Engineering Professor at NKU, and Matine is a Princeton graduate with a background in supply chain operations at Apple and Walmart E-Commerce. Together, we’ve built a team of engineers, regulatory advisors, and industry veterans passionate about redefining transportation.
Transportation technology caught my attention as I realized how critical mobility is to shaping cities, economies, and quality of life
Where do you see transportation technology headed in the future?
JY: The future of transportation technology will focus on sustainable, high-capacity solutions that maximize efficiency in dense urban environments. I believe we’ll see an increased emphasis on modular and scalable systems, like accelerating walkways, that seamlessly integrate into existing infrastructure while minimizing environmental impact.
What does success look like to Beltways in the short term and long term?
JY: In the short term, success means successfully completing our public pilot deployment and securing contracts with early adopters to demonstrate the scalability of our solution. Long term, our vision is to become the go-to provider of accelerating walkways globally, reshaping how people move through high-traffic spaces and enabling cities to become more walkable and sustainable.
Find out more about Beltways here. Are you a startup based in or looking to relocate to Kentucky? Keyhorse’s current quarterly investment cycle is open! Apply now.
.png)