UP.Labs

“Airline schedules are complex puzzles,” writes Edward Russell in this recent piece for Fast Company. “Everything from demand to airport ground staff, to flight connections go into the mix. And the smallest change can mean the difference between a profit or loss, or even whether a flight operates on time, on any given route.” Read the full article to learn about Odysee —?a startup launched by the UP.Labs and Alaska Airlines partnership — which is pioneering predictive AI technology to reshape airline scheduling: https://lnkd.in/eAXAbhmw Currently in testing with Alaska Airlines, Odysee’s AI tool harnesses data from over 700,000 flights to predict revenue outcomes of potential scheduling changes with up to 90% accuracy. It analyzes variables like demand, gate availability, and staffing — empowering airlines to make informed adjustments that minimize delays and maximize route profitability. #AviationInnovation #AI #MachineLearning #FlightOptimization #Aerospace #MobilityTech #FutureOfAirTravel #UPLabs #UPPartners #PredictiveAI #AlaskaAirlines #Aerospace #FastCompany

At the 8th FII Institute (#FII8) in Riyadh, UP.Partners’ Chairman and Managing Partner Adam Grosser joined thought leaders and innovators across three panels to discuss how technology and investment strategies will shape the future of human-centric industries, climate tech, and urban mobility. Each discussion offered insights into advancing sustainable technology while maximizing human potential and creating new investment opportunities. Panel 1: The Role of Women in the 5th Industrial Revolution In a dynamic conversation with Ebru ?zdemir (Limak Group of Companies), Edith Yeung (Race Capital), and Francois Barrault (Digiworld Institute), moderated by Rima Assi from McKinsey & Company, Adam and panelists explored how women’s leadership can drive innovation in AI and cognitive technologies. Together, they addressed how AI can be leveraged to enhance human potential and efficiency without displacing it. Watch the conversation here: https://lnkd.in/e7k_E3_J Panel 2: Closing the Series B Funding Gap in Climate Tech Against a backdrop of a 33% global decline in growth funding for climate tech, top climate VCs debated the pressing need for strategic frameworks to secure Series B funding in this space. Adam moderated this session with insights from Gregory Dewerpe (noa), Jan Lozek (Future Energy Ventures), and Bruce Niven (Aramco Ventures), addressing strategies to bridge the funding gap and uncover new high-yield opportunities. Watch the session here: https://lnkd.in/e-xTCngN Panel 3: What Will Globalize Innovative Mobility? In this forward-looking session, Adam led a discussion with pioneers such as Gene Berdichevsky (Sila Nanotechnologies, Inc.), JoeBen Bevirt (Joby Aviation), Jean Todt (United Nations), and Adam Woodworth (Wing). Together, they explored the infrastructure and investment needed to scale innovative mobility solutions for global urban centers. Watch the panel here: https://lnkd.in/etWUKqhT As we embrace the 5th Industrial Revolution, fostering human potential, promoting sustainable climate tech investment, and advancing urban mobility will require collaboration across sectors. We’re honored to support these discussions and explore what it takes to fuel transformative change. #FutureInvestmentInitiative #FII8 #5thIndustrialRevolution #ClimateTech #UrbanMobility #FutureOfWork #Aviation #Mobility #AI #VentureCapital #UPPartners

Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting an unforgettable evening at our hangar in the iconic Santa Monica Airport as part of #LATechWeek. The event brought together leading innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors in the mobility and technology sectors for a productive and engaging evening of conversations and connections. The vibrant atmosphere sparked lively discussions about the future, with many guests exploring potential collaborations and new ventures. It was inspiring to see so many great people come together to share ideas, foster innovation, and strengthen California’s technology community. We’d like to thank everyone who attended for making this event such a success, as well as Fenwick & West, Justworks, and Distillery for their sponsorship and collaboration. We look forward to continuing these important conversations and driving forward the future of technology and mobility together. Here are a few highlights from the evening! #LATechWeek #UPLabs #Innovation #TechCommunity #FenwickAndWest #Justworks #FutureOfMobility

The 2024 UP.Summit was nothing short of magical. From the roar of World War II fighters to the silent flight of fully electric planes, we witnessed 100 years of aviation history and got a glimpse into the future of mobility. The event showcased groundbreaking innovations in space exploration, autonomous and electric vehicles, hypersonic travel, and more. The next wave of mobility opportunities will require disruptive innovation across technology, infrastructure, supply chains, and human resources — and this year’s UP.Summit is where many of the important conversations surrounding every facet of mobility happened. The UP.Summit brought together the top minds from aerospace, automotive, maritime, AI, policy-making, military, and beyond — innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors all working together to build a better and exciting future. This year's event broke records, inspired 19,000+ students and hosted 12,000+ attendees at the Community Day, leaving us feeling more motivated than ever to transform the moving world. We had several amazing companies that had their products and technology on display, including: AeroVironment, Archer, Boom Supersonic, Boston Dynamics, Estes Industries, LLC, General Atomics, Hermeus, L3Harris Technologies, Loft Dynamics, Meyers Manx, Nikola Corporation, Pivotal, Radiant, REGENT, SpaceX, Stoke Space, Teleo, Tesla, Textron Aviation, Trousdale Ventures, VAST, Walmart, Wing, Zipline, and many more. It’s hard to capture the essence and energy of the UP.Summit in words, so we put together a couple of recap videos to help — and we encourage you to check them out! https://lnkd.in/gaEfhyfv https://lnkd.in/gCsvbwKr #UPSummit #FutureOfMobility #Innovation #SpaceExploration #STEMInspiration #Aerospace #Auto #Automotive #Tech #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #Economy

During the UP.Summit, we were proud to announce the first startup that’s come from the UP.Labs and Alaska Airlines partnership! Meet Odysee — odysee.ai — an AI-enabled startup that's taking a new approach to schedule optimization. Launched with $5M in seed funding led by UP.Partners, Odysee is an innovative, new flight schedule optimization software platform that leverages AI and big data to optimize asset configuration for the airline industry and other logistics operators. The platform will ensure the best use of each aircraft asset and the interconnections between them, empowering teams to more effectively optimize one of the most complex areas of an airline’s business. The partnership between UP.Labs and Alaska Airlines was established as part of Alaska Star Ventures, Alaska Airlines’ investment arm and is aligned with Alaska’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. Over the next three years, the partnership will launch additional startups focused on solving key challenges in aviation and mobility. “What sets Odysee apart is its ability to help airline schedulers assess the various tradeoffs that come with certain schedule changes, allowing them to make more informed choices in building comprehensive flight schedules,” said Steve Casley, Odysee Chief Executive Officer. Read the full press release for more: https://lnkd.in/eh-zZjGf #AlaskaAirlines #Odysee #AviationInnovation #News #Announcement #MobilitySolutions #CustomerExperience #UPSummit #VCNews

Just Announced: J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. and UP.Labs Unite to Establish Logistics Venture Lab to Fuel the Next Wave of Innovation in Logistics and Freight Today at the UP.Summit, UP.Labs and J.B. Hunt —?one of the largest supply chain solutions providers in North America — announced their establishment of the Logistics Venture Lab (LVL), which will launch AI-enabled startups to solve core industry challenges. The logistics and freight-focused lab will aim to launch as many as six startups over the next three years to solve core strategic challenges within the industry. The startups —?the first of which the companies target to begin launching in 2025 — are inspired by opportunities to drive efficiency and solve common problems faced by providers in the logistics and freight transportation space. They will focus on key industry service areas such as brokerage, dedicated, intermodal, and truckload, among others. “Having successfully collaborated with Porsche AG, Alaska Airlines, and an undisclosed retail corporate partner, we’re excited to bring our unique venture lab model to a new transportation sector — logistics and freight,” said John Kuolt, Founder & CEO of UP.Labs. Click here for the full story: https://lnkd.in/eds4s8xr #Logistics #News #VentureCapitalNews #StartupNews #JBHunt #UPSummit

Had a blast at the UP.Summit Community Day! ?? Huge shoutout to everyone who joined to celebrate innovation and entrepreneurship at the Bentonville Municipal Airport. From autonomous vehicles to a record-setting model rocket launch, it was a day filled with cutting-edge tech and a vision for the future. Grateful to the City of Bentonville and our amazing partners and exhibitors who brought their technology to show off at Thaden Field (VBT). Check out the video for highlights! https://lnkd.in/ePexFvQH

We are excited to host an exclusive evening at our beautiful hangar in the iconic Santa Monica Airport on October 16, from 6-9 p.m. (Pacific Time). This special reception — done in partnership with Fenwick & West and Justworks —?brings together the brightest minds and leading innovators in the mobility and technology sectors. Mingle with fellow entrepreneurs and investors while enjoying a vibrant atmosphere designed to inspire and connect. Expect engaging conversations, networking opportunities, and a glimpse into the future of mobility and technology. Whether you’re looking to spark new ideas or explore potential collaborations, this event is the perfect platform to elevate your vision and ambitions. Our event is a part of LA #TechWeek — a week of events hosted by VCs and startups to bring together the tech ecosystem. This event has limited space, so click the link below to indicate your interest in attending: https://lu.ma/0so33w35 — and expect a final guest confirmation shortly before the event. We hope to see you at the Santa Monica Airport on Wednesday, Oct. 16! #LATechWeek #UPLabs #VentureCapital #VCNews

Come join us for the UP.Summit Community Day at Bentonville Municipal Airport! ?? ?? ?? We invite families, students, and tech enthusiasts to explore the latest innovations in transportation, experience an air show that will feature historic warbirds, flying cars, autonomous drones, and futuristic aircraft, and stay for an attempt to set a Guinness World Record. From autonomous vehicles to cutting-edge drones and space exploration technologies, come and see what the future holds: https://www.upsummit.day/

Great news from our portfolio company BeyondMath! Congratulations to Alan Patterson, Darren Garvey, and the entire team as they revolutionize the way industries conduct complex physics simulations.