JetBlue Ventures’ Post

Tomorrow, I'll accompany Commissioner Adina Valean to a fireside talk with Markus Villig, CEO and founder of Bolt. It will be fascinating to hear the conversation between these two pro-innovation leaders. To boost the EU's competitiveness, we must combine innovation and transportation. While digital connectivity is crucial, it cannot replace physical connectivity. The two work well together. This is a lesson we should never forget. Without transport innovation, there is no competitiveness. Bolt was one of the first disruptive transportation startups. Many others followed suit, developing new markets, including Volocopter, Lilium, DRONAMICS, bound4blue, Zeleros, and KONUX. Let's follow the example of Commissioner Valean and Markus Villing, and work together to make the EU a global powerhouse in transport innovation. The workshop takes place tomorrow at 10:00 in Sofitel Hotel. Participation is through invitation sending an email at: sharedmobility@bolt.eu

𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐭 Fuselage Innovations !🚀 From a young boy captivated by flying objects to a grown-up leading a startup that delivers innovative flying solutions, my journey has always been about soaring to new heights. At Fuselage Innovations, we started with a mission to tackle challenges in the ecosystem. Scaling success isn’t easy, but it becomes achievable when every obstacle is seen as an opportunity. Transforming challenges into benefits for those around us is at the core of what we do. Mental strength is crucial, especially in today’s fast-paced world. Surrounded by good people—friends, family, colleagues, mentors, and business connections—keeping a smile through it all and a motive to move forward. I’m ready to face each challenge head-on, driven by a passion for pushing boundaries and achieving greatness. Let’s rewrite the playbook, redefine success, and inspire others to dream bigger. The journey of learning and growth is happening now, and it's an exciting adventure! #LeadershipJourney #Innovation #StartupLife #Aviation #DreamBig #Inspiration #GrowthMindset #FuselageInnovations

There's something in the water here in #StartupGVL. A ripple effect. International corporations including BMW of North America, LLC, Michelin and Milliken & Company have headquarters here. It's not just great for our economy or our employment rate. It's good for founders. Why? These companies drive innovation. They thrive on it. They believe in giving back. They invest. Brilliant minds work there. Suppliers are drawn to them like a magnets to a fridge. Launching your company in their orbit can propel you farther than you ever imagined. Watch how BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC is opening doors and providing opportunity to minority businesses.

🚀 Despite raising $36 million over 8 years, Journera, the startup envisioning a connected travel experience, sadly shut down its operations last week. 🔍 What Was Journera: Imagine seamless travel where airlines, hotels, and transportation services communicate to enhance your journey. They dreamed that Uber would preschedule your ride based on your boarding time, that your hotel would prioritize room preparations based on your arrival time, and that your airline would offer earlier flights based on your airport arrival time. That was Journera's vision. However, despite the industry veteran CEO Jeff Katz's connections and efforts, the market wasn't ready. 🏅 Milestones: Journera raised $36 million, partnered with major brands like Marriott International and American Airlines, but couldn't achieve profitability. Their recent $10 million Series B-1 round in July 2022 wasn't enough to sustain them. ❌ Reasons for Failure: Regulatory hurdles, data breaches, and the pandemic hit hard. These were all reasons the CEO gave. Yet others think that the key reasons were a lack of Product-Market Fit and poor timing. The concept intrigued but didn't align with industry priorities, and the timing wasn't optimal for widespread adoption. 📚 Lessons Learned: Startups - focus on achieving Product-Market Fit early on. Ensure your solution addresses a pressing need and clients are eager to implement it. Moreover, timing is crucial. Stay tuned to market trends to seize opportunities effectively. 🤔 Do you agree with the lessons learned? Journera's journey ends here, but the lessons learned pave the way for future innovations. #Startup #FailureAnalysis #LessonsLearned #shutdowns SimpleClosure

RIDE, RIVALRY AND RESILIENCE : THE STORY OF CAREEM. Chapter 7: The Deal. In this transformative chapter, Mudassir Sheikha and his team navigate the intricacies of a historic deal that reshapes the dynamics of the Middle Eastern tech landscape. The negotiations between Uber and Careem reach a climax as the two companies come to an agreement, marking the acquisition of Careem by Uber for a staggering $3.1 billion in 2019. The chapter unfolds with a blend of excitement, anticipation, and careful consideration. Sheikha's leadership is tested as he ensures that the deal aligns with Careem's vision while addressing the concerns of stakeholders, including employees and investors. The narrative captures the strategic implications of this acquisition for both companies, as well as the broader implications for the competitive landscape in the Middle East. The aftermath of the deal sees Careem retaining its brand and operational independence, providing a unique example of a successful acquisition that preserves the identity of the acquired company. Sheikha's role in navigating this delicate transition solidifies his reputation as a visionary leader capable of steering Careem through uncharted waters. This chapter not only marks the end of an era for Careem as an independent entity but also opens up new possibilities for collaboration and growth under the umbrella of a global tech giant. As the narrative unfolds, the story of Careem becomes intertwined with the broader narrative of the evolving ride-hailing industry on a global scale. #startup #strategy #careem #uber

The TNMT website provides a detailed overview of airline investments in startups, highlighting how corporate venture capital (CVC) is essential for innovation in the travel industry. It tracks which airlines are the most active investors, detailing their portfolios and the startups they support. Notable examples include JetBlue, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and United Airlines. This resource offers insights into how these investments could transform air travel and improve customer experiences, identifying growth opportunities and new revenue streams for airlines. 🪁 For more details: https://lnkd.in/eTcz3784

The Founding Story of Southwest Airlines – From Texas Dream to Air Travel Revolution 😎 Discover how Herb Kelleher and Rollin King transformed Southwest Airlines from a simple idea into a leading low-cost airline. Learn about the key moments that defined its journey. #business #startup #growthhacking #businessowner #businessgrowth #businessstrategy

The topic of my workshop was "Skilling & High Performing Teams: Embracing Complexity". Successful teams in complex environments need skills such as active listening, perspective-taking and the capability to implement the company’s strategies while fostering innovation in daily operations. Thank you to UNLEASHED by Purina and FirstVet (Jeanne Chatelle, David Prien & Co) for giving me the opportunity to engage with a fantastic group of investors, startups and scale-ups, within PET-Tech, at your major event at Hasselbacken."

🏆 Here it is!!! Last week, we were awarded "Best Tech Sales Employer 2024" at the ARRtist Circus in Berlin! 🎉 ❓ What is our secret you may ask! 👉 It's the people and our culture! We are... 🪴 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲, rather than assuming, we challenge the status quo! 🤝 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗮𝗹 and stand together, supporting each other! 🎯 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹-𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 and driven by success, we tirelessly strive to achieve our objectives! ⚙️ believe in continuous improvement (𝗸𝗮𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻) and embrace feedback to refine ourselves daily! 🗑️ committed to streamlining processes (𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻) for maximum efficiency! #bestemployer #techsales #startup

Last week I covered Purpose, Vision and Mission. Today I bring it all together, and add the fourth and last pillar of your culture: Values. Values are: - What we practice day to day - A set of behaviours that reflect our company’s culture - They guide each decision we make to fulfil our purpose - They help us hold each other accountable #startup #founders #peopleops #scaleup #culture #peoplefirst #peoplestrategy