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30 August 2021
Aerospace accelerator calls for AI innovators as programme launches for third year
Unsplash © Flynn Doherty

Aerospace accelerator calls for AI innovators as programme launches for third year

Aerospace accelerator programme, Aerospace Xelerated, is calling for applications for its third year. The programme will support startups working with AI to improve the way aircrafts are built.

The 12-week programme will be led by industry partner Boeing, which will offer £100K equity investment for the participating startups. The participants will also have the opportunity to talk to expert strategists across the industry and will be introduced to a network of angel investors, VCs, forging contacts across the aerospace industry. 

Participating startups will also receive a further £100K in “programme perks” from partners including Google, Amazon and Stripe, on top of mentoring from entrepreneurs, mentors and investors worldwide. 

Nichola Bates, Managing Partner at Aerospace Xelerated and Head of Global Accelerators and Innovation Programs at Boeing, said the company was “excited” to take the programme forward.

“At Boeing we believe there is a huge opportunity for innovative startups focussed on autonomy and AI to disrupt every aspect of aerospace, from the supply chain to onboard customer service and we’re eager to double down and support more businesses.”

“We’ve seen incredible leaps forward in aerospace and connected industries in the past 12-months, and we know we can offer startups looking to operate in this space an incredible advantage,” she added. 

Since the programme launched in 2019, alumni participants have raised a further £20M in funding and created more than 100 jobs.

The programme will host late seed-stage startups who are working with AI across the aerospace industry, including in the fields of autonomous navigation, generative design and smart maintenance. 

Applications are now open and will close on 26th September.