The inaugural class of aeroinnovators “graduated” from the first-ever aviation accelerator in the country during AeroInnovate’s Pitch and Mingle event this week at AirVenture.
AeroInnovate is an aviation accelerator program that operates under the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Business Success Center.
Pitch and Mingle, an annual event held during the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture since 2009, provides industry leaders and potential investors from across the nation the ability to network with fellow entrepreneurs.
During the event, five companies pitched their aviation business ventures to a group of investors, including ICARUS Devices, Interactive Aerial, Advanced Vector Analytics, Enduralock and Grypshon Industries.
“It is incredibly exciting to see the first class graduate, especially if they receive strong investments. It means that we are doing something right,” said Audra Hoy, AeroInnovate director at UW Oshkosh.
The AeroInnovate accelerator program offers aviation/aerospace startups access to capital, expertise, mentorship and its network. To date, AeroInnovate has allowed 32 companies to pitch innovations to investors. Upon graduation of the first accelerator class, that number will jump to 37. The second accelerator class is expected to kick off June 2016.