FutureFlight
eVTOL Aircraft Programs Could Face Investment Squeeze
Financial advisor to eVTOL startups warns new capital for aviation innovation could be in short supply
Joby Aviation
eVTOL startups that raised substantial funding before the Covid-19 pandemic, such as Joby Aviation, are more likely to be able to bring their aircraft to market versus those that still need funding, according to AirFinance founder and managing partner Kirsten Bartok Touw. (Photo: Joby Aviation)

Constraints on capital and shifting investment priorities could trigger a shakeout in the crowded eVTOL aircraft and urban air mobility sector, according to Kirsten Bartok Touw, founder and managing partner of the AirFinance group. Speaking at an April 29 NBAA-organized webinar on the future of innovation in aviation, she said companies able to attract investment before the Covid-19 emergency are now far better placed to bring their aircraft to market than competitors that still need to find funding.

“If companies have enough cash, they will be full steam ahead, but others will have to step back as they face uncertainty over where they are going, especially those who do not have a diversified cash flow,” Bartok said. “There will now be much more differentiation between winners and losers.”

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