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Accelerate@IATA is the first industry-owned travel tech accelerator where airlines and startups converge for innovation.
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Launched in 2019, this program aims to accelerate the pace of innovation in the air transport industry by connecting airlines with innovative startups that have been vetted by IATA for their impactful solutions on the future of the industry and potential longevity.
The goal of the program is to establish pilot opportunities between startups and member airlines of Accelerate@IATA.
Each group of selected startups goes through a dynamic program, where they are granted access to IATA Subject Matter Experts' mentor network, and assistance in implementation of pilots with airlines.
Find comprehensive answers to common questions about the Accelerate@IATA program.
What are the program goals?
- To reduce friction points throughout startup-airline collaborations by providing capacity-building resources. This will ensure that the innovation ecosystem can better understand and engage with the aviation industry.
- To increase the number of pilots between the partners and the startups by providing tailored support to both parties. With this, Accelerate@IATA aims to foster interest in these collaborative opportunities and increase the number of successful pilots.
- The initiative seeks to expedite the cycle of innovation by thoroughly vetting startups through IATA' selection process and enabling airlines to choose suitable startups that align with their needs.
How does Accelerate@IATA work?
Below, you will discover the comprehensive workflow detailing how the program operates.
What is the program roadmap?
- ACCELERATE: The primary objectives are to find solutions for airlines that accelerate standard development & adoption of standards, and stimulate competition to bring new entrants to the market.
- IDENTIFY & SELECT RELEVANT STARTUPS: Collaboratively, the partners define the focus of the program and select the startups that best fit their needs.
- MAP SOLUTION & DEMAND: During the 1-month program, IATA subject matter experts help the startups to develop innovative solutions to meet airline requirements and take care of the onboarding work, freeing up airline resources.
- IMPLEMENTATION: The goal is to start a pilot and implementation between new entrants and airline partners at the end of the program.
What are the benefits for airlines?
- Access to global, stage-agnostic startups and technology providers that have the potential to increase airline revenues, reduce costs, increase operational efficiency and build brand loyalty
- Savings on innovation costs compared to internal development
- Access to new technologies that meet the industry standards.
- Startups and technologies vetted by IATA to ensure they meet industry guidance/standards, and that the startups are financially viable.
- Focus on Modern Airline Retailing Program
- Shorter program reducing time to market
What are the benefits for startups?
- Access to IATA’s global network of airlines and value chain partners for pilot and implementation opportunities
- Access to expertise and market knowledge
- Industry mentorship
- Tailored educational program to increase knowledge of the aviation industry and improve their solutions
- Access to industry trends and knowledge
How does the startup sourcing process work?
- Inbound: The Accelerate@IATA team will publish information on the upcoming themes and program contact details on their personal and corporate social media profiles and landing pages. This initiative aims to raise awareness of the program within the innovation ecosystem and encourage startups to actively engage with the program.
- Outbound: In addition, the team will utilize manual sourcing techniques, which encompass, but are not limited to, the use of existing databases like Crunchbase, Tracxn, and similar platforms. They will also employ Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) methods, such as event and portfolio scrapping, LinkedIn searches, etc., to identify relevant startups for each theme and priority area.
- Referrals: Through cultivating relationships with Accelerators, Ecosystem promoter agencies, Angel Investors, and Venture Capital Funds, Accelerate@IATA aims to establish a network of qualified partners capable of providing program information to their own networks. Additionally, they will suggest the most relevant startups for each segment from all around the world
Overall, the sourcing process is estimated to take 2 full months.
Access to records from prior batches, providing valuable insights through the recordings. This information serves as a valuable resource for analyzing trends, identifying improvements, and making informed decisions moving forward.
Batch 4 - 2023
SEGMENT 4 ( Mar - May) - IMPROVED USER EXPERIENCE
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SEGMENT 5 (Aug - Oct) - DIGITAL IDENTITY MANAGEMENT
Selected startups: FastID, Gataca, Gimly, Neoke, Omma, and SpruceID
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SEGMENT 6 (Oct - Dec) - DELIVERING ON NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR OFFERS AND ORDERS
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Batch 3 - 2022
SEGMENT 5 (28 Jan - 29 Mar) - CONTACTLESS & SEAMLESS PASSENGER JOURNEY:
You can access the list of startups through our Segment 5 Startup Booklet and Session Recording.
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SEGMENT 6 (21 Apr - 20 Jun) - HEALTH CREDENTIALS:
Selected startups: Mattr, Accredify, Convergence.tech, ixlayer, Evernym. |
SEGMENT 7 ( 22 Jun - 20 Aug) - SUSTAINABILITY:
You can access the list of startups through our Segment 7 Startup Booklet and Session Recording. |
SEGMENT 8 (7 Jul - 5 Sep) - AI & DATA-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
You can access the list of startups through our Segment 8 Startup Booklet. |
Batch "Restart" - 2021
SEGMENT 1 (15 Sept - 15 Oct) - ANTICIPATE DEMAND :
Selected startups: 3Victors, Migacore, Flyr Labs, Airnguru, Prevedere, PredictHQ, Volantio You can access here to the Session Recording. |
SEGMENT 2 (8 Oct - 8 Nov) - STIMULATE DEMAND:
Selected startups: GoQuo, Caravelo, HiKoala, Plusgrade, Smartvel, Dohop, Deepair, AirBlackBox You can access here to the Session Recording. |
SEGMENT 3 (22 Oct - 22 Nov) - PASSENGER CONFIDENCE:
You can access here to the Session Recording.
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SEGMENT 4 (10 Nov - 10 Dec) - OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY:
You can access here to the Session Recording.
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Batch 1 - 2020
The focus areas for Batch 1 targeted offers and products within product differentiation covering the following areas: NDC, ONE Order, dynamic offerings, innovative payments and sustainability. In February 2020, 9 startups (30k, App in the air, Smooss, Bacarai, Deepair, WonderMiles, Ulysse, Aeronology, Airnguru) from around the world were selected based on their new solutions that can help airlines in these areas.
Prior to launch of Batch 1, the COVID-19 pandemic began and the batch was put on hold.
Batch 0 - 2019
The focus of Batch 0 was to accelerate NDC Capabilities, that addressed the industry’s current distribution limitations such as product differentiations, time-to-time market and access to full and rich air content and transparent shopping experience.
The following 7 startups participated in the program and addressed the following areas. For more information, check out Batch 0 report (pdf).
Startup | Areas Addressed |
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Caravelo |
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Duffel |
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Kyte |
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Migacore |
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PK Fare |
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Thomalex |
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Winglet |
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The Accelerate@IATA program is designed for airlines and other travel value chain partners eager to collaborate in an open innovation environment. This initiative focuses on identifying, assisting, developing, and financing start-ups.