Startup Of The Week: Vertical Aerospace

Vertical Aerospace is a company in the UK that is trying to pioneer electrical aviation.
Their aircraft, the VX4, is designed to run on electricity alone, helping to decarbonise the industry for short-distance journeys.
The company has already had 1,500 pre-orders for the VX4, showing the demand for more sustainable air transport.

Who Is Vertical Aerospace?

Vertical Aerospace is an electrical aviation company, on a mission to make urban transport more sustainable.

Founded in 2016, its goal is to help make transport more efficient by lowering congestion and pollution with a short-distance, zero emissions travel alternative.

Their hero product, the VX4 aircraft, is designed to transport 4 people in a quiet, efficient and sustainable way. It can take off vertically, meaning it doesn’t need a huge runway, and can transport people up to 100 miles. This eVTOL technology (electric vertical take-off and landing) is particularly useful for cities where space is limited and building multiple runways is impractical.

The company has also been working on propeller technology, allowing the aircraft to fly without making a lot of noise. This is particularly important as they are designed to fly lower than traditional aircrafts, so need to be conscious of noise pollution.

Vertical Aerospace has gathered a lot of attention recently, having secured $50 million in funding from Mudrick Capital. They are hoping to get approval to enter the market soon, and have already opened the VX4 up for pre-orders.

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What Makes Vertical Aerospace Unique?

Vertical Aerospace is unique because it is creating an entirely new product, designed to make urban transport more sustainable. Its VX4 aircraft is created with this in mind, offering a quiet, comfortable, quick and zero-emissions way to get people from A to B.

Their innovations are creating a whole new sector of travel, designed to re-define what short-distance travel could look like in cities. With 15 minute journeys possible between Battersea and Heathrow for example, these short-term, low-level flights could be excellent ways to transport people around.

Is There A Market For Electric Aviation?

The aviation industry has a reputation for being bad for the environment, but it’s a great way to get people around. Having an electric alternative means zero-emissions flights – that will be more eco-friendly than driving!

eVTOL technology is also becoming more popular. Devices like drones are able to take off without needing much space, making them perfect for quick journeys in city environments. In fact, the eVTOL Aircraft market size is projected to grow from USD 1.2 Billion in 2023 to USD 23.4 Billion by 2030 according to Markets and Markets – making it a great market to be in.

As cities become more heavily populated, and countries clamp down on emissions, electrical vehicles that can tackle these issues in tandem will become more popular.