Led · Series B · Aug 2022

Aero operates premium, custom-designed 16-seat aircraft that fly direct between private terminals, targeting premium leisure travelers. Led by CEO Uma Subramanian, the company provides personalized Concierge services from booking to touchdown and markets a distinctive fleet of black planes. In the U.S. its flights run as public charters operated by its wholly owned subsidiary USAC Airways 695 LLC (FAA Air Carrier Certificate 5U5A029Q), and Aero acts as both public charter operator and indirect air carrier under DOT Part 380. The company serves curated destinations across the U.S. and Europe, enriching the guest experience at private terminals. Current routes include Aspen, Los Cabos and Sun Valley from Los Angeles (Van Nuys) and San Francisco (SFO), and Ibiza, Mykonos and Nice from London’s Farnborough Airport. Aero intends to use new funding to drive global market expansion and to address increased demand on existing routes. Aero offers "semi-private" air travel that flies out of private terminals on small, spacious planes retrofitted from 37 seats down to 16 and supported by a concierge team. The company currently operates a single route between Los Angeles and Aspen with one-way tickets priced at $1,250. CEO Uma Subramanian said Aero sold a lot of seats after borders reopened and was gross margin positive in July and August. Aero ran test flights between Mykonos and Ibiza prior to the pandemic and began offering flights as travel resumed. The startup is backed by Garrett Camp’s startup studio Expa. Management plans to use new funding to grow the team, add more flights, launch a Los Angeles–Cabo San Lucas route in April, and return to Europe later in the year. Aero is a premium air travel startup that matches travelers heading to the same destination onto direct flights into and out of private airports, aiming to offer private-jet luxury for less than commercial first class. The company emphasizes a luxurious, social in-flight experience and the ability for customers to skip airport security. It ran test flights this summer in partnership with a European air carrier between Mykonos and Ibiza and plans to start selling tickets to Telluride and La Paz next month. Aero is developing a mobile-first booking and ticketing system to support its service. The startup has raised $16 million in funding and is backed by Garrett Camp’s startup studio Expa, with additional investment from GGV Capital. A company spokesperson said customers skew toward millennial and Gen Z, experience-driven travelers.

Led · Series B · Aug 2022

Aero Technologies is a next-generation, semi-private leisure airline operating limited routes in the U.S. and Europe. It operates small jets—16-seat Embraer 135 regional aircraft and 13-seat Legacy 600 planes—using private terminals and seasonal, demand-driven schedules focused on leisure travel. Routes include U.S. service from Los Angeles and San Francisco to destinations such as Aspen, Los Cabos and Sun Valley, and European flights from a London base to Ibiza, Mykonos and Nice. Average fares across the network are about $1,700 (one-way San Francisco to Los Cabos ≈ $2,300), positioning the product between first-class and private-jet charters. The company plans to expand its fleet and enter new markets with the new funding; because it tends to own its jets, fleet expansion is a primary capital expense but also enables rapid route changes. Aero has seen recent growth in Europe, drives acquisition via word-of-mouth and partnerships with high-end member clubs and hotels, and uses a model of nightly returns to base to attract pilots. Aero Technologies operates a next-generation premium air travel service offering premium seats on direct flights between private terminals using custom-designed 16-seat aircraft. Led by CEO Uma Subramanian, the company runs all U.S. flights as public charters through its wholly owned subsidiary USAC Airways 695 LLC (FAA Air Carrier Certificate 5U5A029Q). The company is San Francisco, CA-based. Its business model focuses on point-to-point premium service from private terminals rather than traditional commercial hubs. Aero raised a $20M Series A to fund growth and to propel future flight paths in the U.S. The round brought the company’s total funding to date to $50M.

Participated · Equity · Feb 2022

Mindmaze Therapeutics is a biotechnology company based in Lausanne. Public reporting around this financing describes the company entering a structured capital agreement with Neuro.io that includes both equity purchase and convertible debt. The firms are exploring a strategic rapprochement that could lead to a partnership or merger. Beyond the transaction details, the articles do not provide information on Mindmaze's products, revenues, user metrics, or founding year. Recent corporate activity is dominated by this two-tranche CHF 8 million deal with Neuro.io.