FTE Global 2022 hosts inaugural FTE Startup Idol finals and members-only ADR innovation workshop

Corporate Partners and startup members of the FTE Innovation & Startup Hub gathered at Future Travel Experience Global 2022 (6-9 September, Las Vegas), which included a selection of members-only activities.

The event hosted the finals of the first-ever FTE Startup Idol competition, which was delivered with the official support of JetBlue Technology Ventures. A total of 12 early-stage, high-potential startups were invited to pitch to an audience of industry decision-makers, focusing on three of the most pertinent air transport industry topics: Sustainability, Automation & Workforce, and Digital Identity & Security.

ThorDrive was announced as the winner of the inaugural FTE Startup Idol competition.

The judging panel, including industry experts from Harry Reid International Airport, JetBlue Technology Ventures and Plan3, selected one startup from each category to advance to the final, with ThorDrive then chosen as the overall winner by an audience vote.

Aeroporti di Roma’s Pietro Caminiti, Head of IT, and Stefano Biondi, Head of Maintenance Engineering, led a members-only innovation workshop at FTE Global 2022.

In addition to having access to the FTE Startup Idol pitch sessions, our Corporate Partners – including international airlines, airports, investors and vendors – had access to an exclusive interactive workshop led by Aeroporti di Roma (ADR).

ADR’s Pietro Caminiti, Head of IT, and Stefano Biondi, Head of Maintenance Engineering, led the workshop in which they shared how ADR’s Innovation Cabin Crew – a dedicated team of innovators within the airport group – is helping to successfully foster corporate innovation throughout the entire organisation.

FTE Global also served as the launchpad for the new-look FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub, which has been rebranded to better reflect its three core areas of focus: digital transformation, innovation, and startup engagement.