AERLIN Closes Seed Round to Build Blended Wing Aircraft
The AERLIN team, Dr. Alexander Erdmann (CEO), Alexander Wojczik (CTO), Michail Kortt (CDE), Holger Weiss - © AERLIN
Berlin-based aviation startup AERLIN has successfully closed its seed funding round, according to a press release from IBB Ventures. New shareholders include Hamburg's eFUEL GROUP, Berlin's IBB Ventures, several private investors, and members of the Business Angel Club Berlin-Brandenburg. Startup expert Holger G. Weiss has been appointed chairman of AERLIN's advisory board.
The fresh capital will fuel development of AERLIN's first production model and the build of a prototype. The plan: a two-seat ultralight sport aircraft with a wingspan of around 12 meters, aimed at private pilots, flight schools, and aero clubs.
What makes AERLIN's approach stand out is its blended wing concept, where wing and fuselage merge into a single aerodynamic body. Compared to conventional aircraft designs, this could cut aerodynamic drag and lower the energy needed for flight. The company is also partnering with eFUEL GROUP to explore synthetic fuels for aviation.
"With the successful close of our seed funding round, we've reached an important milestone for AERLIN," said Dr. Alexander Erdmann, the company's managing director, according to the press release. He added that the investors share the conviction that aviation can become fundamentally more efficient and lower in emissions.
Stephan Schulze, Investment Director at IBB Ventures, said the vision of low-emission flying, the team's expertise, and its structured approach, including early validation with a flight-capable model, convinced the fund to get involved.
Founded in 2025 by Dr. Alexander Erdmann, Alexander Wojczik, and Michail Kortt, AERLIN is developing its next-generation blended wing aircraft in Berlin. The investment comes via IBB Ventures' B# pre-seed fund, which is putting €10 million into early-stage deep-tech ventures across fields like AI, robotics, and sustainability, funded through the EU's STEP program.
Thinking about launching a business, setting up premises, or creating partnerships in Berlin?
We invite you to contact us.
Our team is ready to help you with our free consultation services.