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§ Private Profile · 73 Market St, Venice, CA 90291, USA
Aerospace company designing and manufacturing zero-emission electric business aircraft with hydrogen propulsion.
Beyond Aero has raised $20.0M across 1 funding round.
Key people at Beyond Aero.
Beyond Aero was founded in 2020 by Hugo Tarlé (Founder) and Valentin Chomel (Founder) and Eloa Guillotin (Founder).
Beyond Aero has raised $20.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Beyond Aero is a Toulouse, France-based aerospace manufacturer developing the first electric business aircraft powered entirely by hydrogen propulsion technology. The company focuses on decarbonizing the highly emissions-intensive private aviation sector by designing zero-emission corporate jets capable of traveling over 800 nautical miles per flight. Operating with a dedicated workforce of 50 employees, the manufacturer has successfully secured $914 million in letters of intent, representing commercial pre-orders for 108 individual aircraft. To support ongoing research and manufacturing, the enterprise has raised over $24 million in total venture funding from prominent institutional backers including Y Combinator, Giant Ventures, and Bpifrance. In early 2024, the firm significantly advanced its technical engineering efforts by completing France's first manned flight of a fully hydrogen-electric prototype. Beyond Aero was founded in 2020 by Valentin Chomel, Eloa Guillotin, and Hugo Tarlé.
Key people at Beyond Aero.
Beyond Aero has raised $20.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $20.0M Series A in October 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2024 | $20M Series A | Giant Ventures | 7percent Ventures, Ahren Innovation Capital, Initialized Capital, ONE WAY Ventures, Solana Ventures, Winklevoss Capital, Siqi Chen | Announced |
Beyond Aero was founded in 2020 by Hugo Tarlé (Founder) and Valentin Chomel (Founder) and Eloa Guillotin (Founder).
Beyond Aero has raised $20.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Beyond Aero's investors include Giant Ventures, 7percent Ventures, Ahren Innovation Capital, Initialized Capital, One Way Ventures, Solana Ventures, Winklevoss Capital, Siqi Chen.
Beyond Aero is pioneering the first electric business aircraft powered by hydrogen propulsion, designed to carry six passengers up to 800 nautical miles—five times farther than comparable battery-electric planes[1][3]. Founded in 2020, the company aims to decarbonize private aviation, a segment known for its high per-passenger emissions, by leveraging a clean-sheet design optimized for hydrogen fuel cells and advanced safety features[2][3]. Beyond Aero’s mission is to make aviation electric and sustainable, focusing initially on business jets before scaling to regional and commercial aircraft markets by 2050[3].
For an investment firm perspective, Beyond Aero embodies a mission-driven approach targeting climate change mitigation through breakthrough aerospace technology. Its investment philosophy centers on clean energy propulsion and sustainable aviation, with key sectors including hydrogen fuel cells, electric propulsion, and aerospace innovation. The company’s impact on the startup ecosystem is significant, as it advances hydrogen-electric certification pathways in collaboration with regulatory bodies like EASA, setting industry precedents and fostering infrastructure development for hydrogen refueling[1][4].
As a portfolio company, Beyond Aero builds the BYA-1, a hydrogen-electric light jet serving corporate and private aviation clients seeking low-carbon alternatives. It solves the problem of high emissions and limited range in electric aviation by integrating a modular, battery-free hydrogen fuel cell system with built-in redundancy and optimized safety features such as crashworthy hydrogen tanks[1][8]. The company has demonstrated strong growth momentum, achieving Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL6) for its propulsion system, securing over $900 million in Letters of Intent for 108 aircraft, and earning recognition from global organizations like the World Economic Forum[2][4][5].
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Beyond Aero was founded in 2020 by Eloa Guillotin, who leads as CEO, with a background in aerospace engineering and a vision to tackle climate change through electrification of aviation[2]. The idea emerged from the urgent need to reduce aviation’s carbon footprint, especially in the private jet sector, which is disproportionately polluting. Early traction included France’s first manned fully hydrogen-electric flight and assembling a team of over 70 aerospace engineers from leading firms, alongside strategic partnerships with entities such as EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies and Dassault Systèmes[1][4].
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Beyond Aero rides the global trend toward decarbonization and electrification of transportation, specifically targeting aviation’s climate impact. The timing is critical as regulatory pressure mounts and sustainable aviation fuels remain transitional solutions. Hydrogen-electric propulsion offers a zero-emission alternative with superior range and cost advantages over battery-electric aircraft, aligning with global climate goals and infrastructure rollout plans[3]. By advancing certification and infrastructure, Beyond Aero influences the broader ecosystem, encouraging investment and innovation in hydrogen technologies and sustainable aviation.
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Beyond Aero is poised to lead the hydrogen-electric aviation revolution, with near-term goals focused on certification and market entry of its BYA-1 business jet. Over the next decade, it aims to scale hydrogen propulsion to regional and commercial aircraft, addressing a significant portion of aviation emissions. Trends shaping its journey include growing regulatory support, infrastructure development for hydrogen refueling, and increasing demand for sustainable air travel. Its influence is likely to expand as it sets industry standards and demonstrates the commercial viability of hydrogen-electric flight, potentially transforming the aviation sector’s environmental footprint.
This trajectory ties back to Beyond Aero’s founding mission: to redefine aviation through electrification and hydrogen propulsion, making sustainable flight a practical reality for business aviation and beyond[1][3][4].
