Top 10 Energy-efficient Airplane startups

Updated: February 25, 2024

Energy-efficient airplane startups are focused on developing innovative aircraft designs, propulsion systems, lightweight materials, and aerodynamic technologies to enhance fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and minimize environmental impact in the aviation industry, aiming to create sustainable air transportation solutions that prioritize energy efficiency, noise reduction, and carbon footprint reduction while maintaining safety and performance standards.
1
Country: USA | Funding: $2B
Joby Aviation develops a new generation of electric personal aircraft created to revolutionize personal mobility.
2
Country: Germany | Funding: $1B
Lilium develops an on-demand air mobility service (based on all-electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft), enabling a world where anyone can fly anywhere and anytime.
3
Country: Germany | Funding: $780.6M
Volocopter is an urban air mobility company that develops eco-friendly air taxis to transport people.
4
Country: USA | Funding: $450M
Wisk is an urban air-mobility company on a mission to leave traffic on the ground and make sustainable flight a reality for everyday life.
5
Country: USA | Funding: $281.2M
Fulcrum Bioenergy converts household garbage into low-carbon transportation fuels, including jet fuel, diesel, and ethanol.
6
Country: USA | Funding: $256.7M
ZeroAvia enables zero emission air travel at scale, starting with 500 mile short-haul trips, at half of today’s cost.
7
Country: USA | Funding: $164M
LanzaTech develops renewable jet fuel
8
Country: Sweden | Funding: $147.2M
Heart Aerospace is a Swedish startup making electric regional airplanes.
9
Country: USA | Funding: $133.5M
Reliable Robotics is bringing remote piloting to small cargo planes
10
Country: Germany | Funding: $109.9M
Wingcopter is a manufacturer of unmanned eVTOL fixed-wing aircraft dedicated to improving the lives of people worldwide.
11
Country: USA | Funding: $82.5M
Universal Hydrogen is a fuel logistics company that is working to make hydrogen-powered commercial flight a possibility in the near future.
12
Country: USA | Funding: $69.5M
Air Company turns carbon dioxide into things like perfume, vodka, hand sanitizer and ethanol-based aviation fuel
13
Country: Israel | Funding: $50M
Urban Aeronautics develops advanced aerodynamic technologies that are the basis for an entirely new family of internal rotor (ducted fan) aircraft known as Fancraft
14
Country: USA | Funding: $2M
Alder Fuels is developing a low-carbon jet fuel that can be used as a 100% drop-in replacement for petroleum fuel, without needing to adapt existing aircraft or engines.
15
Country: USA | Funding: $48.7M
Dimensional Energy transforms carbon dioxide into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and valuable consumer products with the lowest energy input per barrel installed.
16
Country: USA | Funding: $48.1M
Pyka makes technologies that make aviation safer, more affordable, and more accessible than has ever been possible in human history.
17
Country: USA | Funding: $40.5M
Whisper Aero is harnessing the power of air more cleanly, efficiently, and quietly than ever before.
18
Country: USA | Funding: $40M
U.S.-Spanish aerospace company developing solar powered aircraft capable of perpetual flight.
19
Country: Switzerland | Funding: $8M
Powering the future of aviation with sustainable aviation fuel - affordable air travel without the carbon footprint
20
Country: USA | Funding: $5.5M
The next generation hydrogen fuel cell system for the aerospace industry and air transportation market
21
Country: UK
FeTu specialises in reducing energy consumption and emissions through its self-developed two-stage turbine technology, which applications in the energy market and manufacturing industries including aerospace and marine.
22
Country: Germany
Spark e-Fuels is a supplier of co2-neutral aviation fuel that is designed to be carbon-neutral.
23
Country: France
Beyond Aero is developing a zero-emission private aircraft powered by hydrogen-electric propulsion.
24
Country: German
ODONATA creates Hydrogen Electrical Vertical Take-Off and Landing vehicle Designed to reach high ranges and payload while allowing CO2 free operations
25
Country: USA
Fast and efficient logistics. Delivering entire pallet-loads via fully autonomous cargo drones.
26
Country: USA
Luftcar is an aviation company that develops self-driving air and land vehicles that can travel farther distances while consuming less fuel.