Earlier today, International Airlines Group announced the launch of IAGi Ventures, the group’s new corporate venturing arm. IAGi Ventures will invest a maximum of €200m in “high-potential companies” over five years in what is set to be the largest investment of its kind by a European airline group, and one of the largest globally. The group is looking to grow companies with “big, game-changing innovations [that] can push the boundaries of the possible.”

This announcement comes at the same time as the launch of IAG’s new external innovation brand, IAGi, the group’s dedicated brand for innovation.

IAGi Ventures is actively searching for early stage start ups and scale ups, between Seed and Series B, that improve customer experiences, operations, sustainability and are creating tech that tackles the industry’s “most pressing” challenges.

Recognising the value of innovation, IAG has been running an accelerator programme for the last nine years which has contributed to the success of Assaia, i6, and LanzaJet among others. This programme will continue to run in partnership with IAGi Ventures but will be renamed IAGi Accelerator.

In a bid to support companies with industry changing ideas, IAGi Ventures will now be targeting early-stage investments, describing its approach as “one of financial discipline with data driven, strategic investments that create long term value for IAG’s businesses.”

Speaking on the announcement, Jorge Saco, IAG’s Chief Information, Procurement, Services and Innovation Officer said:

“We want to be at the forefront of innovation in the aviation industry, leveraging cutting-edge technology and new strategies to enhance our operations and customer experience. Adopting new technologies will improve our business and the value we generate, which is why we are seeking to work with and learn from top innovators through venturing. By launching venturing, alongside our accelerator programme, we plan to work with the best start-ups and scale-ups tackling today’s challenges.”

The venture arm’s investment themes are artificial intelligence, automation, sustainability & mobility, experiential platforms, connectivity & IoT, and tech evolution & security.

 

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