The 2023 edition of Takeoff Accelerator, the program dedicated to startups developing innovations in the fields of aerospace and advanced hardware, part of CDP Venture Capital's National Accelerator Network, has come to an end. The program was launched with funding of more than 25 million euros for initial investments and subsequent stages of growth of startups and thanks to the initiative of CDP Venture Capital and the involvement of promoters and co-investors including Fondazione CRT through Fondazione Sviluppo e Crescita, UniCredit, Plug and Play as the operational manager of the program, OGR Torino as Innovation & networking partner, Unione Industriali Torino as Institutional Partner, Leonardo Lab Future Aircraft Technologies, AVIO as Corporate Partner and ESA and ASI as members of the Scientific Board.
During the Takeoff Expo 2023 at OGR Torino, which took place on October 26, nine startups concluded their five-month program and presented themselves in front of investors, partners and members of the local and international ecosystem. This event reaffirmed Italy's leading role in the global space economy market, where Italy represents the fourth largest nation in terms of the number of aerospace startups funded in Europe between 2000 and 2022.
The startups accelerated during this year's program worked on projects both in the Space Economydeveloping hardware and software solutions, and in the Aeronautics sector, contributing enabling technologies for aircraft and drone innovation. The most promising startups will have the opportunity to access a second investment of up to 800,000 euros to scale their business model.
The Expo also marked the start of the Call for Applications for 2024, which has a deadline of Jan. 12, 2024. Startups interested in receiving investment from Takeoff Accelerator and participating in the upcoming accelerator program can apply on the official website.
Eugenia Forte, Senior Program Manager of Takeoff Accelerator, said, "With the conclusion of the second edition of Takeoff, we can say we are proud to have supported some of the most promising realities in the aerospace field present in Europe today. We strongly believe that giving startups the opportunity to engage with the experience of the partners involved in the project on a daily basis is not only functional to the growth of the ecosystem of aerospace, but fundamental to create a solid competitive advantage for the Italian economy in the years to come.”
Takeoff's 2023 batch accelerated startups
Airizon
Torre del Greco
Provides digital products developed by aviation professionals for aircraft designers. With the HEAD digital suite, it enables design and team collaboration in a customizable platform to manage the entire aircraft lifecycle, from design to certification.
Betadynamiq
Rome
Aims to revolutionize Earth observation by integrating advanced hardware with artificial intelligence-based software for real-time on-board data analysis.
DM-AirTech
Hamburg and Turin
Supports the safe and efficient development of air mobility and logistics by providing specific weather solutions and analysis for the development of vertiport infrastructure and air corridors, as well as the execution of safe and efficient flight operations of UAVs and VTOLs.
DRB
Milan
Offers autonomous drone inspection services for various applications.
Dromt
Chivasso
Active in the field of remotely piloted aircraft and develops drone software, automating monitoring activities and providing customized information and analysis for sectors such as agriculture, construction, and emergency management.
Golbriak Space
Tallinn and Cuneo
Develops miniaturized optical telecommunications solutions to enable fast transfer of large volumes of data between space, airborne, and ground-based devices.
Involve Space
Como
Provides innovative solutions for space activities through a flexible, low-cost pseudo stratospheric satellite.
OhmSpace
Southampton and Rome
Develops new safer and faster electric propulsion systems, with the goal of reducing risks from space debris and enhancing the space economy by accelerating missions and services in space.
Space Frontier
Naples
Designs and develops zero-emission hybrid propulsion systems.
