The Romanian firm, known for its air mobility planning solutions, triumphed over five other innovative finalists: Eddytec, Estuaire, Sora Aviation, OneGrab, and Flux Aviation. The judges were impressed by the founder's compelling pitch, the product's potential, and its capacity to revolutionise the sector.

As the competition's winner, LYNEports will receive £5,000 in prize money, six months of mentorship from the Aerospace Xelerated team, and an exclusive exhibition space at the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow, providing a significant boost to their business growth. The runner-up, Eddytec, will be awarded £2,500 and three months of mentorship.

“We are incredibly grateful to be recognised as the winner of this competition”, said Rasha Alshami, Founder & CEO of LYNEports. “It’s been an honour to compete against such an inspiring group of startups working to make a positive impact within the aerospace industry. We appreciate the opportunity and look forward to using this platform and the reward to further our mission of merging airspace and ground space to be more inclusive, and bring the next generation of travel and aviation in a safe and sustainable way into our cities and communities.”

The pitch competition invited startups offering solutions in three challenge areas: Innovative Workforce, Sustainability in Aerospace, and Next-Gen Travel. Overall, 20 innovative startups applied to participate in the pitch competition. Of them, six are UK-based, nine are female-founded, and ten are working on sustainability-focused solutions, highlighting the growing emphasis on diversity, innovation, and environmental responsibility in the aerospace industry.

“Startups like these are playing an important role in developing innovative solutions needed to tackle sustainability issues we face and ensure that we achieve global targets as an industry,” said Nichola Bates, Aerospace Xelerated’s Managing Partner and Boeing’s Head of Global Accelerators & Innovation Programmes. “It's exciting to see so many startups putting sustainability at the core of their business. Hopefully, this indicates that we are moving towards a greener and more equitable future in aviation.”

“It's inspiring to see the number of UK-based companies among the applicants. It really showcases the thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem within the UK and underscores our nation’s capacity to lead in aerospace innovation,” said Jacqui Sutton, Non-Executive Director, Farnborough International Ltd, who took part in the event as a judge. “The talent and creativity emerging from these startups are a testament to the strength and potential of our local industry.”

Aerospace Xelerated Programme Director, Jacqueline Davidson, commented optimistically on the number of female-founded companies that applied to the competition. “Having an almost 50% participation rate of female-founded companies is a powerful indicator of the strides we are making towards gender diversity in aerospace. These women-led startups are not only breaking barriers but also driving innovation within the industry.”

The pitch competition took place within the airshow's inaugural Startup Zone. This new addition, the Aerospace Xelerated Innovation Zone, featured 16 startups supported by Aerospace Xelerated. The zone also included a stage for panel discussions with industry experts, workshops, product demonstrations, and more.

The introduction of the Startup Zone at the Farnborough International Airshow, in collaboration with Aerospace Xelerated, aimed to emphasise the airshow’s commitment to fostering excellence and innovation within the global aerospace and defence sectors.

“We are honoured to have partnered with Farnborough International to host the first-ever dedicated Startup Zone in the airshow’s history,” said Bates. “Through our collaborative efforts, we created a platform to highlight the innovative solutions of these early-stage companies to a global audience of industry leaders, investors, and enthusiasts.”

Jacqui Sutton, added: “This year’s event really highlighted the advancements that are taking place within the global aerospace sector. We are proud to have joined Aerospace Xelerated in launching the Startup Zone, highlighting the groundbreaking solutions offered by these pioneering startups and helping them build connections with the wider industry.”