Ashley Barnes’ Post

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 - 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐅𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐋 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬 - AutoFlight announced today an exclusive strategic investment and cooperation agreement with leading battery developer CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited) - CATL will invest hundreds of millions of dollars, becoming a strategic investor in the eVTOL pioneer - AutoFlight’s founder and chairman, Tian Yu, along with CATL and investor Team Global, will collaborate to support AutoFlight’s development SHANGHAI (3 August, 2024): AutoFlight and CATL today announced an exclusive strategic investment and cooperation agreement, valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars, bringing together pioneers in eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) and battery technology in a unique partnership. CATL’s exclusive strategic investment in AutoFlight underscores its strong recognition of its core competitiveness and the long-term development potential in the eVTOL field. As a global leader in battery technology and innovation, CATL holds a dominant position among new energy battery suppliers. Its deep R&D expertise, robust industrial foundation, and extensive industrial chain advantages will help AutoFlight achieve significant breakthroughs in the eVTOL sector. AutoFlight will establish a long-term partnership with CATL, committing to the joint research and development of eVTOL aviation batteries. By combining their respective resources and technical expertise, the two companies will focus on enhancing the energy density and performance of eVTOL batteries, aiming to support longer flight distances and higher load capacities, while also achieving significant improvements in safety and stability. Through this in-depth collaboration with CATL, AutoFlight will not only accelerate the development and application of eVTOL battery technology but also elevate the overall technical capabilities of eVTOL aircraft to new heights. Following the completion of this financing, AutoFlight will remain committed to the in-depth research, development, and widespread application of eVTOL technology, with a focus on further enhancing the safety and reliability of air logistics and travel solutions. The company will expedite the R&D and airworthiness certification of its manned Prosperity passenger aircraft, while collaborating with leaders in the new energy sector to advance the R&D, commercialization, and market expansion of eVTOL technology, ultimately creating a more comprehensive and intelligent air travel solution. (Photo Caption: Leo CHEN, from CATL Investment Management Department, and Jade WEI, Chief Financial Officer of AutoFlight, signed the strategic investment agreement on behalf of both parties.) 

Zuri, a Czech developer of hybrid VTOL aircraft, has raised €3M in its pre-Series A funding round, bringing the total raise to €4.4M. This funding, led by Jan Barta of Pale Fire Capital, will accelerate Zuri's development of its next-generation hybrid VTOL demonstrator, TD 2.0. Zuri, founded in 2017 by Michal Illich, aims to transform aviation with its innovative aircraft that combines electric and internal combustion technologies for sustainable, point-to-point, mid-range air travel. The company plans to scale quickly and is hiring across multiple disciplines to drive the future of aviation. Stay ahead in the startup world! 🌟 Get a weekly digest of key happenings and insights delivered to your inbox every Monday morning. Don't miss out—subscribe now: https://lnkd.in/eJXZrmEj 🚀 #Aviation #Funding #Sustainability #VTOL

Beyond Aero secures $44M to electrify aviation with hydrogen-powered aircraft! Giant Ventures leads their largest early-stage investment, co-leading Beyond Aero’s Series A with Bpifrance to make zero-emissions flight a reality. Led by CEO Eloa Guillotin, Beyond Aero has already secured $1 billion in demand for 108 hydrogen-electric aircraft and achieved France’s first manned hydrogen-electric flight. With fuel cell technology producing only water as a byproduct, Beyond’s aircraft will achieve five times the range of battery-powered models—transforming the business aviation sector, the most CO2-intensive per passenger. The journey is backed by Initialized Capital, Airbnb’s Nathan Blecharczyk, Dropbox’s Arash Ferdowsi, and sports legend Raphaël Varane. 🌍✈️ Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gsr2Hf24 #HydrogenElectric #AviationInnovation #CleanAviation #DeepTech

One of my favourite pieces that featured on Zag this week was a column from investment banker Florent Roulet on 5 M&A exit routes for a new mobility business. Florent breaks these down into “the dream route”, “the independence route”, “the shared vision route”, “the relationship route” & “the mirage route”. “Most mobility entrepreneurs will probably admit that exiting their business to one of the global mobility or tech giants such as Uber, Lyft, Bolt, Google, Amazon or Siemens would be their dream scenario. Not only would this make them rich, but it would also make their CV’s look good if they manage to convince one of those giants they had built a business that they would struggle to build on their own. However, there is a catch…most of those large players have consistently preferred to hire extended teams, hence making the bar for M&A extremely high. Stories which look good on a pitch deck to potential investors rarely materialise in real life!” You can see this and a wrap of our other best stories of the week in the newsletter link below

Good points being made here about investment being lopsided towards eVTOLs. https://lnkd.in/epwquAeA

Vertical Aerospace Secures $50 Million Funding to Propel eVTOL Ambitions 🚁💸 Vertical Aerospace, a trailblazer in the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft industry, has secured a significant $50 million in new funding. The deal, a term sheet signed with its majority shareholder Stephen Fitzpatrick and primary creditor Mudrick Capital Management, will provide the financial boost needed to support the company’s Flightpath 2030 Strategy. This strategy aims to position Vertical as a leader in the global eVTOL market by the decade's end. The funds will aid in the continued development and certification of the VX4, an innovative electric aircraft, and strengthen the company's balance sheet, ensuring long-term growth and success. #AirNews #Aviation #AviationNews #eVTOL #ElectricAviation #VerticalAerospace #Flightpath2030 #AerospaceInnovation #ElectricAircraft #SustainableAviation #TechNews #Investment

Switzerland, with its pioneering spirit in technology and sustainability, stands at the forefront of a transformative opportunity—the development of an Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) industry.🇨🇭 This innovative sector promises not only to revolutionize urban mobility but also to enhance Switzerland's economic landscape by creating new jobs and business opportunities.🇨🇭 The geographic and economic landscape of Switzerland provides a unique advantage for the eVTOL industry. The country's mountainous terrain and scattered urban centers present a logistical challenge for traditional transportation, making eVTOL technology a highly attractive alternative for efficient and sustainable travel. 🇨🇭 Moreover, Switzerland's commitment to environmental sustainability aligns seamlessly with the adoption of electric-powered aviation, which offers a cleaner, quieter alternative to conventional aircraft.🇨🇭 Switzerland’s robust infrastructure in aviation, precision engineering, and high-tech industries offers a solid foundation for the growth of the eVTOL sector. 🇨🇭 The presence of world-renowned technical universities and research institutions also provides access to cutting-edge research and a skilled talent pool, essential for the innovation and development of safe and efficient eVTOL systems.However, the path to establishing a thriving eVTOL industry in Switzerland is not without challenges. Regulatory frameworks, safety protocols, and public acceptance are critical hurdles that need to be addressed. Proactive collaboration between industry stakeholders, regulatory bodies, and the Swiss government will be crucial to creating a conducive environment for the industry’s growth.In conclusion, while there are hurdles to overcome, the potential benefits of establishing an eVTOL industry in Switzerland are immense 💥. This venture not only aligns with Switzerland's environmental and economic goals but also positions the nation as a leader in the next generation of aviation technology 💪 . https://lnkd.in/eBpB5PkJ

Eve Secures Additional $35M from BNDES for 2025 eVTOL Development - By Chris Stonor / More on hype.aero: https://lnkd.in/grUSsEmQ #evtol #aviation

#evtol ZERO GRAVITY RAISE S OVER US$ 13 MILLION IN SERIES A+ FUNDING The funding round was led by Feixi County Canal Industry Fund Co., Ltd. (from Hefei, with Shenzhen Sanhang Venture Capital Co., Ltd. participating as a co-investor. The funds will be primarily allocated to the research, development, and commercial operations of several new energy aircraft models under Zero Gravity, bolstering its core product lines. Specifically, the investment will support the airworthiness certification of the ZG-ONE multi-rotor eVTOL and the flight testing of the full-size ZG-T6 tilt-rotor eVTOL. It will also accelerate the company’s expansion into the green aviation sector, advancing the construction of green aviation flight camps focused on eVTOLs and electric fixed-wing aircraft. See full article : https://lnkd.in/dUKAeRQV #capital #funding #project #test

Reality is hitting many sectors once darlings of VC and those offering SPAC quick rich schemes. The easy money is gone, VC now focused on AI and other shiny new things. That means companies once able to access easy cash must actually start to deliver and developed viable business models.(not plans). It has always seen peculiar that electric Short Take Off and Landing has not garnered more interest. yeah not as sexy as zipping around town in your flying vehicle, but the financial, regulatory and design realities of those were more suspect. However getting people and good efficiently and relatively cheaply to more remote areas seems a great business opportunity. Not a giant one, but a very real one. Maybe it's living in Australia that makes me more aware of the potential and need. current solutions are not great and often few, so there is a real potential. Also the regulatory environment already exists in ways eVTOL can only dream. Anyway, if they get this right this could be a useful option for places like remote Canada, Australia, and US as well as underdeveloped markets like Africa, Central and South America and Central Asia. These don't need big airports and the infrastructure and cost that comes with them. They would be quiet and potentially cheaper to run than current offerings. The biggest downside would be range and recharging facilities, why hybrid will make sense for quite some time, even once batteries become sufficiently dense and cheap. What are others thoughts? https://lnkd.in/gjbtrDSK