Aerospace Xelerated Partners with Farnborough International Airshow to Host First-Ever Startup Zone & Pitch Competition
#AXatFIA
We’re excited to announce that we’ve partnered with Farnborough International to launch the Aerospace Xelerated Innovation Zone — the first of its kind in the airshow’s history. The partnership will support the airshow’s role in powering excellence and innovation, and supporting startups across the global aerospace industry.
Taking place 22–26 July 2024, Farnborough International Airshow will see global aerospace and defence leaders return to Hampshire, United Kingdom, for five days of unrivalled opportunities to discover the latest pioneering technology and engineering, announce historic partnerships, and collaboratively work towards the cumulative sustainable aerospace vision.
Located in Hall 3 (Area 3100), the Aerospace Xelerated Innovation Zone will include an exhibition space for 16 of our portfolio companies, a dedicated lounge area where you can meet our exhibitors, and our very own stage where we will host panels, workshops, product demos, and the Aerospace Xelerated Pitch Competition.
The Aerospace Xelerated Pitch Competition
The Pitch Competition will be held on July 25th and will give startups the opportunity to showcase their solutions to key industry stakeholders. The competition is open to early-stage companies addressing one (or more) of the following challenge topics: Innovative Workforce, Sustainability in Aerospace, and Next-Gen Travel.
The winning startup will receive a prize of £5,000, along with six months of mentorship from the AX team and an exclusive exhibition space at the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow to support their business growth.
Startups worldwide are encouraged to apply, provided they can attend FIA on Pitch Day (July 25th, 2024) and cover their travel costs.
Learn more and apply here before June 17th!
AX Pitch Competition Challenge Topics
- Innovative Workforce: This category centres on innovations revolutionising workforce dynamics and addressing skills gaps in the sector. Solutions in this category can tackle challenges like addressing skill shortages, implementing AI-driven training platforms, and promoting diversity and inclusion initiatives to unlock untapped talent pools.
- Sustainability in Aerospace: This category focuses on solutions aimed at making the aerospace and aviation sector sustainable by promoting eco-friendly and efficient practices. Examples include developing renewable energy sources for aircraft propulsion, designing lightweight and recyclable materials for construction, implementing software-as-a-service (SaaS) platforms to monitor and reduce CO2 emissions, and innovating air traffic management systems to optimise fuel usage, amongst others.
- Next-Gen Travel: This category is all about reimagining the future of travel. Startups in this category must be able to showcase innovations that revolutionise transportation systems and enhance the travel experience. From seamless booking processes to eco-friendly modes of transportation, the aim is to shape the next era of travel with creativity and innovation.
Apply here before June 17.
If you have questions about the competition or the application please contact us at ss@xelerated.aero or gp@xelerated.aero.
About Aerospace Xelerated
Aerospace Xelerated is a global aerospace accelerator and innovation programme delivered in partnership with diverse industry stakeholders, such as the Boeing Company, Tawazun Council, Etihad Airways, Rolls-Royce, GKN Aerospace, and the UK’s Defence and Security Accelerator. Aerospace Xelerated provides investment, mentorship, and support for startups and SMEs developing scalable and sustainable tech solutions for the aerospace industry and beyond.
For the last four years, Aerospace Xelerated has provided mentorship, investment, and support for 42 startups from 15 countries across 4 continents around the globe. Our current portfolio boasts 25% women-led startups, with our most recent cohort featuring an impressive 50% women-led ventures. To date, AX-supported companies have raised over $250M in additional funding — beyond our initial equity investment into each- and created +750 highly skilled jobs worldwide.
Learn more about Aerospace Xelerated: Website | LinkedIn | Medium | X | Instagram
About Farnborough International:
A champion of innovation, Farnborough International is the go-to destination and organisation for the pioneers of today and tomorrow.
A state-of-the-art exhibition and conference centre, a world-renowned event organiser, with a growing portfolio including Farnborough International Airshow, Aerospace Global Forum, Farnborough International Space Show, Sustainable Skies World Summit, and Global Urban & Advanced Air Summit, and film studios, Farnborough International is a catalyst for innovation and a rising events conglomerate.
Covering 20,000 sqm of event space, the Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre offers a multi-functional venue with flexible spaces and has been purpose-built for the hosting of large-scale events. Served by strong national and international travel links, the venue can be reached in just 35 minutes by train from London Waterloo or by car from the M3. For those travelling by air, Heathrow is only 30 minutes away and Gatwick is 50 minutes by car. Farnborough Airport, adjacent to the venue, is one of Europe’s leading business airports.
Farnborough International is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ADS.
