We are thrilled to welcome a new startup in our portfolio: Estuaire, a pioneering greentech based in Paris, dedicated to mitigating the climate impact of aviation. For its first round of funding, this alumni of our Climate Fellowship Program is raising €2,2 million from Satgana, Safran Corporate Ventures, XAnge and AFI Ventures.
Back in 2022, XAnge’s Climate Fellowship Program was launched with one clear goal: empowering entrepreneurs with both financial support and expert guidance, to enable them to transform their visionary ideas into impactful startups. And Estuaire is one example of the concretization of this ambition.
Founded by Maxime and Nicolas Meijers, two seasoned pilots with deep roots in aerospace engineering and AI. Estuaire leverages a blend of high-caliber expertise from Airbus, MIT, Caltech, and beyond.
We’ve been impressed by the ambition of their software platform, built to revolutionize how airlines and airports approach their environmental responsibilities by offering advanced data analytics to minimize both CO2 and non-CO2 emissions effectively.
Reducing warming contrail formations
More precisely, what sets Estuaire apart is its deep expertise in understanding and modeling the non-CO2 effects of aviation. A standout feature of Estuaire’s technology is its focus on reducing warming contrail formations—those linear cloud formations you often see trailing an aircraft, which significantly impact climate.
Through their E-Engine technology stack, Estuaire integrates radar tracking, weather forecasts, flight physics, and climate modeling to provide actionable insights that help reduce these contrails. This powerful platform enables Estuaire’s partners and clients to gain valuable insights into their operations and make informed decisions to reduce their environmental footprint.
The company benefits from the guidance of top-tier advisors, including internationally renowned scientists and former airline executives. One of these advisors is Ulrich Schumann, a pioneering figure in the scientific research of contrail formation. Another notable advisor is Alexandre de Juniac, the former CEO of Air France-KLM and Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Facilitating the collaborative effort of the industry
Also, Estuaire is currently working with prominent aviation and financial institutions including Safran, Vueling, BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Daher, EDF and more. Their ability to attract such advisors and clients early in their journey speaks volumes about their potential and the industry’s trust in their solution.
At XAnge, we are convinced that it is imperative to find ways to mitigate the sector’s environmental impact as the demand for air travel continues to grow. But the path to reducing aviation’s climate impact is not one that can be walked alone. It requires collaboration across the entire industry—from airlines and airports to financial institutions and regulators.
By empowering stakeholders across the aviation value chain to monitor emissions and develop effective reduction strategies, Estuaire is facilitating the collaborative effort of the industry. With this first round of funding, Estuaire is poised to scale up operations and enhance the platform’s capabilities.
We are committed to keep supporting them as they work towards making the aviation sector more sustainable and we are excited about the potential global impact of their pioneering solutions.
