FIA2024: “LYNEports Wins Startup Pitch Competition” Hosted by Farnborough International Airshow & Aerospace Xelerated
LYNEports was selected as the winner of the Aerospace Xelerated (AX) Startup Pitch Competition hosted last Thursday, July 25th at the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow (FIA), reports a press release.
The Romanian company specialising in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) planning solutions was selected as a winner amongst the five other innovative finalists including Eddytec, Estuaire, Sora Aviation, OneGrab and Flux Aviation. LYNEports won for the founder’s strong pitch, product potential and ability to make a difference in the sector.
The company receives UKP5,000 prize money; six months of mentorship from the Aerospace Xelerated team; and an exclusive exhibition space for the 2026 Farnborough Airshow to help them grow their business. The second-place winner, Eddytec, wins an award of UKP2,500 and three months of mentorship.
Rasha Alshami, Founder and CEO of LYNEports, remarked, “We appreciate the opportunity and look forward to using this platform and the reward to further our mission of merging airspace and ground space to be more inclusive, and bring the next generation of travel and aviation in a safe and sustainable way into our cities and communities.”
The pitch competition invited startups offering solutions in three challenge areas:-
: Innovative Workforce.
: Sustainability in Aerospace.
: Next-Gen Travel.
Twenty innovative startups applied to participate in the pitch competition. Six were UK-based; nine female-founded; with ten working on sustainability-focused solutions, highlighting the growing emphasis on diversity, innovation and environmental responsibility in the aerospace industry.
Jacqueline Davidson, Aerospace Xelerated Program Director, commented, “Having an almost 50 percent participation rate of female-founded companies is a powerful indicator of the strides we are making towards gender diversity in aerospace. These women-led startups are not only breaking barriers but also driving innovation within the industry.”
Jacqui Sutton, Non-Executive Director of Farnborough International Ltd, who took part in the event as a judge, said, “It’s inspiring to see the number of UK-based companies among the applicants. It really showcases the thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem within the UK and underscores our nation’s capacity to lead in aerospace innovation.” Adding, “The talent and creativity emerging from these startups are a testament to the strength and potential of our local industry.”
The pitch competition was part of the airshow’s first-ever dedicated Startup Zone. In addition, the Aerospace Xelerated Innovation Zone also showcased a further 16 startups and hosted a stage featuring panel discussions with industry experts, workshops and product demos.
Nichola Bates, Aerospace Xelerated’s Managing Partner and Boeing’s Head of Global Accelerators & Innovation Programme, said, “Through our collaborative efforts, we created a platform to highlight the innovative solutions of these early-stage companies to a global audience of industry leaders, investors, and enthusiasts.”
For more information
https://www.farnboroughinternational.org
(Images: Aerospace Xelerated)
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