AeroVironment joins Inmarsat and Rolls Royce as partners with Seraphim Space Camp

AeroVironment, a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems for both defence and commercial applications, has joined Seraphim Space Camp, Seraphim Capital’s SpaceTech accelerator, as a corporate sponsor to support the programme in 2019.

AeroVironment is the fourth new sponsor of Seraphim Space Camp accelerator in 2019 and will be joining an impressive collective of supporting high-profile corporate organisations who are engaged with the programme.

With an increasing amount of drone-based solutions making waves in the SpaceTech ecosystem, four of Seraphim Capital’s portfolio are drone companies, the expertise AeroVironment will bring to the accelerator will have a hugely positive impact on the start-ups selected.

AeroVironment’s involvement in the accelerator, supports its Innovation strategy as it scours the globe to discover the latest developments in security, energy and infrastructure management enabled by drone technologies.

Steven Gitlin, AeroVironment Vice President of Corporate Strategy:

“Participating in the Seraphim Space Camp provides us with valuable access to an innovative and relevant cadre of global entrepreneurs. We look forward to working with Seraphim and its next Space Camp mission to foster new ideas and capabilities that can contribute to our dynamic industry.”

Rob Desborough, Seraphim Space Camp Director:

“With the SpaceTech ecosystem really taking off in the UK it’s great to have our first US corporate sponsor. Companies that are utilising drone technology are a significant theme in sector focus and the AeroVironment relationship brings an invaluable wealth of experience and expertise in this area”.

About AeroVironment, Inc.

AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) provides customers with more actionable intelligence so they can proceed with certainty. Based in California, AeroVironment is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems and tactical missile systems, and serves defence, government and commercial customers. For more information visit www.avinc.com.

About Seraphim Space Camp

Space Camp is the UK’s first dedicated accelerator programme for start-ups in the SpaceTech industry. Launched by Seraphim Capital, the world’s only venture capital fund specialising exclusively in SpaceTech investment, Space Camp is backed by both the UK and European Space Agencies as well as by corporate partners such as Dentons, Rolls Royce and Cyient

Taking a “VC-mindset” approach to the accelerator concept, the founders of Space Camp believe that investment readiness should be a prerequisite for companies’ participation in the programme, not the endgame.

The Space Camp value proposition is designed to attract the ‘best of breed’, high growth technology companies that are best addressing the biggest challenges facing corporates and the wider SpaceTech industry, and to support them in achieving commercial scale by creating tangible outcomes beyond simply funding.

Space Camp is creating an ecosystem and community support network to ensure that participating start-ups are equipped to maintain their accelerated growth beyond the completion of the programme, providing mentoring from more established companies from the Seraphim Capital portfolio, opportunities to work with invested corporate partners on proof-of-concepts and other technology integrations, and ongoing access to facilities and resources in locations around the world.

For more information, please visit: https://spacecamp.vc/