IAG Pledges $217 Million for Startup Investments Through New Venture Arm

IAG said Monday that it has earmarked €200 million ($216.5 million) over the next five years for a new venture capital arm to invest in startups. 

The airline group has invested in more than 10 startups since 2017, but the company saw a need for a more concerted effort with that work. 

“Today’s announcement is the first time that IAG has announced a venturing arm with specific funds for investment,” the company said in a statement to Skift. “The size of funding places us as one of the largest in the industry globally, and the biggest for a European airline group.”

IAG (International Airlines Group) owns British Airways, Iberia, Vueling, Aer Lingus, and Level.

Companies in any industry — though not as common in travel — may create a venture capital arm to invest and take partial ownership in startups developing new tech. Startups that take corporate investment typically also receive mentorship from people working in that respective industry, and there’s often easier access to trials within those companies or with their clients. Three other travel companies that have venture capital arms include JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, and Amadeus. 

The new program, called IAGi Ventures, combines the venture capital fund with the company’s existing startup accelerator, called IAGi Accelerator (formerly Hangar51). Both programs are under IAGi (short for IAG Innovation). 

IAGi Ventures

IAGi Ventures is focused on early stage startups, from seed to series B, aiming for investments of between £500,000 ($643,720) and £10 million ($12.9 million). The company generally expects to co-lead rounds with other investors and may participate in follow-on rounds if needed. 

IAG said the investments will focus on "customer experience, operations, and sustainability" across global markets. The company told Skift that this could include companies developing software products as well as those developing tech based on new scientific or engineering breakthroughs. IAG is interested in companies developed for aviation as well as other industries that could be applied to aviation, the company said. 

“We are focusing in on specific technologies that we believe can be transformative for our industry such as automation, artificial intelligence, and connectivity,” the company said. 

IAG has previously invested in startups including business travel tech company Spotnana, renewable jet fuel company LanzaJet, and ZeroAvia, which is developing a hydrogen-electric jet engine. IAG most recently invested in Wastefront, which is developing tech to convert used tires into jet fuel.

IAG is open to investing in startups at various commercial stages, including those that are pre-revenue and pre-profitability. 

IAG has worked with more than 100 startups since 2016 in its accelerator, a program meant to help young companies develop commercially viable products. The venture and accelerator program are working together to identify top startups of interest to IAG. “We don’t automatically invest in the start-ups that are selected for the IAGi Accelerator, but we do ask for the start-ups to be open to investment from IAGi Ventures if their technology falls within our investment thesis.”

Companies can submit pitch decks to the fund online. 

There’s a dedicated team overseeing IAGi Ventures. The team is reviewing a number of pitches at the moment and expects to announce new investments in the coming months.