Beyond Aero
Beyond Aero is a French hydrogen-electric aviation startup developing the BYA-I One business jet, an eight-seat fuel-cell aircraft with 800 nautical mile range and zero direct emissions, serving business aviation operators and targeting 2030 market entry under EASA and FAA certification.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersToulouse, France
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Beyond Aero does
Beyond Aero is a French aerospace startup founded in 2020 that is developing the BYA-I One, a hydrogen fuel cell-powered business aircraft positioned as the world's first electric business aircraft using hydrogen propulsion, with a target range of more than 800 nautical miles (1,500 km). The company is headquartered at 18 Rue de l'Arcade in Paris, with engineering and propulsion testing operations at an integrated hydrogen-electric powertrain laboratory in Toulouse. Its go-to-market targets business aviation operators, wealthy individuals, corporations, and fractional ownership operators seeking zero direct carbon emission private aviation solutions.
The BYA-I One architecture uses gaseous hydrogen stored at 700 bar in externally mounted tanks above the wing structure, feeding fuel cells that drive twin propfans in a pusher configuration — a 2026 design pivot from earlier electric ducted fans. In October 2025, the company validated its propulsion system to Technology Readiness Level 6 through full-scale testing across three fuel cell channels with a combined capacity of 1,200 kW, and in March 2026 completed the Preliminary Design Review under EASA CS-25 and FAA Part 25 transport-category certification pathways. Beyond Aero strengthened its technology base by acquiring Universal Hydrogen's intellectual property, flight data, assets, and team members in 2025, absorbing over US$90 million in prior R&D investment, and has assembled Tier-1 aerospace supplier partnerships with EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies, FEV Aerospace, BrightLoop Converters, AVL, Dassault Systèmes, and Airbus Protect.
The business model is a pre-revenue enterprise direct-sales motion on bespoke hydrogen-electric business jets priced individually through Letters of Intent, with over US$1.1 billion in LoIs disclosed. The company has secured 10+ airport operator memoranda of understanding and 16 hydrogen production and distribution partner agreements to underpin aircraft delivery and refueling infrastructure. Beyond Aero is pre-revenue, targeting 2030 market entry, and has released a feasibility study with Porsche Consulting and Kardham Group for a 183,000 sq ft Toulouse manufacturing facility with capacity for 60 aircraft annually scaling to 120, creating 225 planned jobs. Funding to date includes a US$20 million Seed/Series 2 in October 2024 (led by Bpifrance and Giant Ventures with Initialized Capital, 7percent Ventures, and others) and a US$50 million undisclosed round in 2025 for the Toulouse laboratory; the company is Y Combinator alumni and led by co-founders Eloa Guillotin (CEO), Hugo Tarlé (COO), and Valentin Chomel (CSO).
Beyond Aero firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Beyond Aero
- Legal name
- Beyond Aero
- Website
- https://beyond-aero.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Beyond Aero is a French hydrogen-electric aviation startup developing the BYA-I One business jet, an eight-seat fuel-cell aircraft with 800 nautical mile range and zero direct emissions, serving business aviation operators and targeting 2030 market entry under EASA and FAA certification.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Beyond Aero industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Hydrogen-Electric Business Aircraft
- NAICS
- Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing (336412)
- SIC
- Aircraft (3721), Aircraft Engines & Engine Parts (3724)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) & Alternative Fuels (e-fuels, biofuels, hydrogen) (THABANAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Aerospace Fuel System Components (Tanks, Lines, Valves) (IMABANAJ)
Keywords
Where Beyond Aero is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toulouse
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Beyond Aero business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Aircraft Sales: Beyond Aero generates revenue from the sale of hydrogen-electric business aircraft. The BYA-1 is designed as an eight-seat aircraft with projected range of 800 nautical miles, with letters of intent valued at over $1.1 billion indicating strong pre-order demand.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom aircraft pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Beyond Aero product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Beyond Aero is developing the BYA-I One, a hydrogen-electric business jet powered by fuel-cell electric propulsion using gaseous hydrogen stored at 700 bar, with twin pusher-configured propfans targeting 800 nautical miles of range and zero direct carbon emissions. The company also operates an integrated hydrogen-electric powertrain laboratory in Toulouse, France, with 1,200 kW of combined testing capacity across three fuel cell channels, used to validate the propulsion system through full-scale testing.
Product overview
Beyond Aero is developing hydrogen-electric propulsion systems for business aviation, with its primary product being the BYA-I One hydrogen-electric business jet. The company operates an integrated hydrogen-electric powertrain laboratory in Toulouse, France for propulsion testing and validation. The product portfolio centers on the BYA-I One aircraft featuring twin propfans powered by fuel-cell electric propulsion using gaseous hydrogen stored at 700 bar, designed to carry six passengers up to 800 nautical miles with zero direct emissions. The company achieved Technology Readiness Level 6 in October 2025 and is pursuing certification under EASA CS-25 and FAA Part 25 standards, with the aircraft targeted for market entry in 2030.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- BYA-I One Hydrogen-Electric Business Jet World's first hydrogen-electric business aircraft using hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion with gaseous hydrogen stored at 700 bar in externally mounted tanks above the wing structure. Features twin propfans in a pusher configuration designed to carry passengers up to 800 nautical miles (1,500 km) with zero direct carbon emissions. Sold to corporations, fractional ownership operators, and high-net-worth individuals via negotiated enterprise contracts.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 50% lower operating noise
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Beyond Aero
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Beyond Aero technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Beyond Aero partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Universal HydrogencoreBeyond Aero acquired Universal Hydrogen's intellectual property, flight data, assets, and team members, representing more than US$90 million in prior investment. This acquisition significantly accelerated Beyond Aero's hydrogen-electric propulsion development.
- Airport Operators (10+ MOUs)coreBeyond Aero has signed memoranda of understanding with over 10 airport operators to support hydrogen infrastructure and operations for the hydrogen-electric business jet.
- Hydrogen Production and Distribution Partners (16 agreements)coreBeyond Aero has secured 16 agreements with hydrogen production and distribution partners to ensure hydrogen supply chain readiness for aircraft operations.
- Porsche ConsultingmajorBeyond Aero worked with Porsche Consulting on a feasibility study for the proposed manufacturing facility in Toulouse, France, developing plans for 60-120 aircraft annual production capacity.
- Kardham GroupmajorPartnered with Kardham Group on the factory feasibility study for the proposed 183,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Toulouse.
- EKPO Fuel Cell TechnologiescoreAerospace supplier partner contributing to fuel-cell electric propulsion system validation alongside other major aerospace suppliers.
- FEV AerospacecoreAerospace supplier partner in propulsion system validation and development for hydrogen-electric aircraft.
- BrightLoop ConverterscoreAerospace supplier partner providing power conversion technology for hydrogen-electric propulsion system.
- AVLcoreAerospace supplier partner in hydrogen-electric propulsion system validation and vehicle development.
- Dassault SystèmescoreAerospace supplier partner providing simulation and modeling capabilities for propulsion system design and validation.
- Airbus ProtectcoreAerospace supplier partner contributing to hydrogen-electric propulsion system validation and safety analysis.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Beyond Aero competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Heart Aerospace: Heart Aerospace is developing the ES-30 hybrid-electric regional aircraft with similar decarbonization-driven mission. Both are pre-revenue, deep-tech aviation startups targeting type certification and have raised comparable late-stage venture capital from credible aerospace investors.
- Aura Aero: Aura Aero is a French electric and hybrid-electric regional aircraft developer (ERA program) building sustainable aviation platforms. Beyond Aero and Aura Aero share a French aerospace base, target regional/business aviation decarbonization, and pursue similar EASA certification pathways.
- ZeroAvia: ZeroAvia is developing hydrogen-electric propulsion systems for commercial regional aircraft, the closest direct competitor to Beyond Aero in hydrogen aviation. Both target type certification for hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered aircraft and overlap in supplier ecosystems (e.g., APU and fuel cell components).
- magniX: magniX is a developer of electric propulsion systems for aircraft, including the Eviation Alice and seaplane retrofits. As a propulsion-system peer, magniX competes with Beyond Aero's hydrogen-electric powertrain in the broader electric-aviation propulsion market.
- Pipistrel: Pipistrel, now part of Textron, produces electric light aircraft (e.g., Velis Electro) and represents an early mover in type-certified electric aviation. Its commercialization trajectory and small-aircraft electric propulsion approach are instructive for Beyond Aero's path to certification.
- Eviation Aircraft: Eviation developed the all-electric Alice aircraft for regional aviation, a direct competitor in zero-emission business/commuter aviation. While Eviation uses batteries rather than hydrogen, both target the same mission profile and customer base (regional carriers and corporate operators) with similar certification profiles.
- Voltaero: Voltaero is a French hybrid-electric aircraft developer building the Cassio family of regional aircraft. It overlaps with Beyond Aero on the sustainable regional/business aviation mission and on the French aerospace ecosystem, but pursues a hybrid-electric rather than hydrogen-electric path.
Broad incumbents
- Airbus: Airbus is developing hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft through its ZEROe program, representing a broad incumbent push into the same hydrogen-aviation category as Beyond Aero. Airbus Protect is also a partner to Beyond Aero, illustrating the overlap and dependency between the startup and the incumbent.
- Rolls-Royce: Rolls-Royce is an established aero-engine manufacturer actively exploring hydrogen combustion and fuel-cell propulsion. As a broad incumbent in aerospace propulsion, it represents both a potential competitor and a strategic technology partner for hydrogen-electric aviation.
- De Havilland Canada: De Havilland Canada is exploring hydrogen-powered Dash 8-400 regional aircraft as a path to zero-emission flight, making it a broad incumbent peer in hydrogen regional aviation. It targets a similar EASA/FAA-style certification and infrastructure buildout challenge as Beyond Aero.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Beyond Aero social profiles
Digital presenceBeyond Aero financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Beyond Aero leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Beyond Aero funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors14 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Beyond Aero M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Beyond Aero
What does Beyond Aero do?
Beyond Aero is developing the BYA-I One, a hydrogen-electric business jet powered by fuel-cell electric propulsion using gaseous hydrogen stored at 700 bar, with twin pusher-configured propfans targeting 800 nautical miles of range and zero direct carbon emissions. The company also operates an integrated hydrogen-electric powertrain laboratory in Toulouse, France, with 1,200 kW of combined testing capacity across three fuel cell channels, used to validate the propulsion system through full-scale testing.
Is Beyond Aero a public or private company?
Beyond Aero is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Beyond Aero founded?
Beyond Aero was founded in 2020. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Beyond Aero based?
Beyond Aero is headquartered in Toulouse, France, in the Europe region.
How does Beyond Aero make money?
One revenue line is on record: aircraft Sales.
Who are Beyond Aero's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Heart Aerospace, Aura Aero, ZeroAvia, magniX, Pipistrel, Eviation Aircraft and Voltaero. Broad incumbents are Airbus, Rolls-Royce and De Havilland Canada.
Does Beyond Aero have an API?
No public API is recorded for Beyond Aero.
What industry is Beyond Aero in?
Beyond Aero's product category is Hydrogen-Electric Business Aircraft. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THABANAA, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) & Alternative Fuels (e-fuels, biofuels, hydrogen), with a secondary code of IMABANAJ, Aerospace Fuel System Components (Tanks, Lines, Valves). Its NAICS code is 336411 and its SIC code is 3721.