Uploaded December 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Day 1, Session 5: Financing Truly Clean Flight – Investor Deep Dive
Speakers:
Katya Constant, Chief Investment Officer, ZeroAvia
Phoebe Wang, Investment Partner, Amazon Climate Pledge Fund
Kieran Mahanty, Director - Teacher’s Venture Growth, OTPP
Kim Zou, Cofounder, Climate Tech VC
Kirsten Bartok Touw, Managing Partner, New Vista Capital
Christian Garcia, Managing Director, Breakthrough Energy Ventures
According to the World Economic Forum, in excess of $700 billion in investment is required between now and 2050 to support the transition to alternative propulsion in aviation. Disruption and rapid progress will require VC investors backing new entrants, and shareholders of public companies demanding ESG activities.
The last 18 months have represented a tougher environment, however, with Q2 VC investment down by a third year-on-year according to Ernst & Young, and the majority of deals at seed or Series A, raising questions about the support for later stage companies approaching commercialisation. For highly regulated industries with long lead times and high capital requirements, such as aviation, this is particularly challenging.
How can disruptive technologies get the capital support they require to make it safely to market? How will investors support operators and lessors in the adoption of these technologies? Where are the long-term best opportunities for good returns and environmental impact?
Day 1, Session 5: Financing Truly Clean Flight – Investor Deep Dive
Speakers:
Katya Constant, Chief Investment Officer, ZeroAvia
Phoebe Wang, Investment Partner, Amazon Climate Pledge Fund
Kieran Mahanty, Director - Teacher’s Venture Growth, OTPP
Kim Zou, Cofounder, Climate Tech VC
Kirsten Bartok Touw, Managing Partner, New Vista Capital
Christian Garcia, Managing Director, Breakthrough Energy Ventures
According to the World Economic Forum, in excess of $700 billion in investment is required between now and 2050 to support the transition to alternative propulsion in aviation. Disruption and rapid progress will require VC investors backing new entrants, and shareholders of public companies demanding ESG activities.
The last 18 months have represented a tougher environment, however, with Q2 VC investment down by a third year-on-year according to Ernst & Young, and the majority of deals at seed or Series A, raising questions about the support for later stage companies approaching commercialisation. For highly regulated industries with long lead times and high capital requirements, such as aviation, this is particularly challenging.
How can disruptive technologies get the capital support they require to make it safely to market? How will investors support operators and lessors in the adoption of these technologies? Where are the long-term best opportunities for good returns and environmental impact?
