Japan Airlines (JAL) has been named one of the “Top 100 Global Companies” in the Corporate Startup Stars 2024 awards. Additionally, the airline received a “Special Award” recognizing the innovative work of its in-house venture arm, W-PIT.
The Corporate Startup Stars Awards, organized by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Mind the Bridge, celebrate companies that excel in corporate-startup collaboration. The awards acknowledge diverse approaches to innovation, including venture client models, corporate venture capital (CVC), intrapreneurship initiatives, accelerators, and corporate venture builders.
This year, JAL’s achievements in fostering open innovation, particularly through its CVC arm, JAPAN AIRLINES VENTURES (JALV), were highly commended. JALV’s recent investments demonstrate a strong focus on sustainability and mobility, including:
- PowerX (Tokyo, Japan): Developer of EV charging solutions aimed at accelerating the transition to renewable energy and a decarbonized future.
- REGENT Craft (North Kingstown, RI, USA): Manufacturer of all-electric seagliders designed to revolutionize sustainable maritime mobility.
- Captura (Los Angeles, CA, USA): Innovator of Direct Ocean Capture (DOC) technology for extracting CO2 from ocean water to combat climate change.
Alberto Onetti, Chairman of Mind the Bridge, praised JAL, stating: “JAL has demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering corporate-startup collaborations globally. Through JAPAN AIRLINES VENTURES, the airline has made impactful investments in mobility, digital transformation, and sustainability. By integrating technologies such as Direct Ocean Capture into its operations, JAL is playing a pivotal role in advancing decarbonization and innovation within the aviation sector.”
Takao Suzuki, Executive Officer of Innovation at Japan Airlines, expressed gratitude for the recognition, saying: “It is a great honor to receive this prestigious award. We sincerely thank everyone who has supported us. This recognition reflects the collaborative efforts of our teams in Silicon Valley and Tokyo, working together as JAPAN AIRLINES VENTURES. Encouraged by this award, we will continue to drive innovation through co-creation with startups worldwide, striving to create new value for a better global society.”
W-PIT’s Special Recognition
JAL’s in-house venture arm, W-PIT, was also celebrated with a special award for its transformative intrapreneurship platform. The initiative has been instrumental in modernizing JAL, turning it into a more dynamic and innovative organization.