What Lufthansa Innovation Hub does

Lufthansa Innovation Hub (LIH) is the corporate innovation unit of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, founded in 2014 and headquartered in Berlin as Lufthansa Innovation Hub GmbH. With approximately 60 employees and additional offices in Singapore and Shenzhen, LIH operates as an independent entity within the Lufthansa Group combining corporate resources with startup-style agility. Its mission is to accelerate digital innovation in travel and mobility across three primary business lines: (1) venture building and incubation — developing internal products such as Cosmos (service relationship management), NAVIT (corporate mobility budget), SQUAKE (carbon offset API), Uptrip (NFT loyalty integration with Miles & More), Compensaid (CO2 compensation via SAF, since integrated into Lufthansa Group's Green Fares), Swifty (LLM-based autonomous AI travel assistant, acquired by Revolut Oct 2025), cloopio (offsite booking, acquired by Project JUNE Dec 2025), and cabinblu (meditation app); (2) venture clienting — operating Startup Gate as the gateway between Lufthansa Group internal teams and external startups, plus the six-month Founder Program; and (3) research, training, and community — including the TNMT (travelandmobility.tech) research platform, Sector Attractiveness Report, Innovation Masterclass and Digital Innovation Ascent training, plus community formats like Innovation Circle and 10X Night.

The company's technology stack spans conversational AI and LLM applications (Swifty), machine learning on operational data (Cosmos), Web3/NFT integrations (Uptrip), API platforms (SQUAKE), and white-label enterprise SaaS (Modifly, Digital Voucher Platform). LIH also facilitates strategic investments on behalf of Lufthansa Group in startups including cargo.one (~€10M, 2018), Hopper (~€10M, 2019), Navan/TripActions (~€10M, 2020), and Cargobase (2022). Revenue mechanics are hybrid: cost-recovery from Lufthansa Group as primary internal customer, professional services revenue from venture clienting and training programs, subscription/newsletter revenue from TNMT research, and non-recurring upside from equity stakes and exits in spun-off ventures. Multiple Digital Lab awards (Capital magazine, 2017, 2018, 2023) and coverage in PhocusWire, Skift, and major German press establish its thought leadership position in the travel innovation vertical.

Name

Lufthansa Innovation Hub

Legal name

Lufthansa Innovation Hub GmbH

Website

https://lh-innovationhub.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lufthansa Innovation Hub is the corporate innovation unit of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, developing digital ventures, operating a venture clienting program connecting startups to Lufthansa Group, and publishing travel/mobility tech research for the global aviation ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Travel and Mobility Technology Innovation

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Strategy & IT Advisory (BPAEAAAA)

Keywords

• Travel technology innovation
• Venture building services
• Mobility platform development
• Corporate innovation consulting
• Digital transformation aviation

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Venture Spin-offs and Exits: Incubating and spinning off ventures as independent companies (Cosmos, NAVIT, SQUAKE, Uptrip, Swifty acquired by Revolut). Revenue generated through equity stakes and exit transactions.
2. Research and Knowledge Services: Publishing research on tnmt.com and distributing via bi-weekly newsletter. Industry reports, infographics, and analysis on travel and mobility tech.
3. Training and Development Programs: Innovation Masterclass, Digital Innovation Ascent leadership training, Innovation Trail 9-week online training for Lufthansa Group employees.
4. Venture Clienting Services: Facilitating partnerships between Lufthansa Group internal teams and startups addressing operational challenges. Gate model connecting startups to enterprise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lufthansa Innovation Hub operates as an independent innovation unit within the Lufthansa Group, building and spinning off digital ventures in the travel and mobility space, running a venture clienting program that connects startups to Lufthansa Group's internal teams, publishing research on travel tech trends, and delivering corporate innovation training. Its portfolio spans AI travel assistants, mobility platforms, carbon offset APIs, NFT-based loyalty, service relationship management, and offsite booking tools, with several ventures having been spun off as independent companies or acquired.

Product overview

Lufthansa Innovation Hub operates as an independent innovation unit within the Lufthansa Group, managing a diverse portfolio of digital ventures, investments, research publications, and training programs across the travel and mobility value chain. Its venture portfolio includes both internal ventures developed by its New Business team and external investments facilitated for Lufthansa Group. Internal ventures span multiple categories: AI and automation products (Swifty, cabinblu, Mission Control); mobility platforms (NAVIT); sustainability/climate tech (Compensaid, SQUAKE); travel operations and booking (cloopio, Modifly, Digital Voucher Platform); loyalty and NFTs (Uptrip); service management (Cosmos); and internal tools (neXus, AirlineCheckins.com). Research and knowledge products include TNMT (tnmt.com) industry deep-dive platform, the Sector Attractiveness Report, The Great Inversion thesis, and the Hype Cycle Series. Training and community programs include Digital Innovation Ascent, Innovation Trail, Changemaker Challenge, the Founder Program, and the Startup Gate Venture Clienting program. External investments include stakes in Navan, Hopper, cargo.one, and Cargobase. The portfolio was built with a deliberate outside-in perspective — most team members come from outside aviation — to challenge industry conventions and drive innovation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Compensaid: CO2 compensation platform using Sustainable Aviation Fuel, enabling carbon-neutral flights for Lufthansa Group customers
• AirlineCheckins.com
• Uptrip
• Cosmos
• NAVIT
• SQUAKE
• cabinblu
• cloopio
• Swifty
• TNMT
• neXus
• Modifly
• Startup Gate
• Innovation Masterclass

Products and services

• Cosmos Service relationship management platform that enables trusted, collaborative, and data-based relationships between clients and external service providers, using machine learning for performance analytics, incident tracking, and AI-driven workflow recommendations.
• NAVIT Mobility budget platform that enables companies to give employees flexible access to multimodal transport options (public transit, car/bike sharing, e-scooters, taxis, fuel/charging cards, Deutschlandticket) with optional CO2-neutral trips via Compensaid integration.
• Uptrip NFT collectible card app for Lufthansa Group airline passengers that lets users scan boarding passes and exchange them for NFT collectibles stored in crypto wallets; cards combine into collections redeemable for rewards through the Miles & More loyalty program.
• SQUAKE End-to-end carbon offset service and API platform for the travel and mobility industry that lets airlines, OTAs, and rental firms integrate carbon calculation and offsetting via API, with access to 50+ carbon offset projects.
• Compensaid Digital CO2 compensation platform that lets Lufthansa Group customers offset flight emissions through Sustainable Aviation Fuel; fully integrated into Lufthansa Group as of February 2023, powering the Green Fares tariff option.
• AirlineCheckins.com Automated online check-in assistant that checks travelers in worldwide for flights on 200+ airlines automatically once the check-in window opens, with registered users from 93 countries.
• Mission Control Chat-based, 24/7 digital travel concierge service for business travelers that handles flight, train, and car rental reservations, conference room organization, and expense accounting via short chat messages for a monthly fee.
• Digital Voucher Platform Digital gift voucher platform for Lufthansa Group Airlines (Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Swiss Airlines, Brussels Airlines) enabling individuals to purchase and send airline gift vouchers via email, with additional use cases for cabin crew compensation distribution.
• Modifly White-label digital platform that lets passengers booking via tour operators purchase flight-related ancillary services (seat reservations, additional baggage, upgrades) directly from airlines through the tour operator's interface.
• Swifty First fully autonomous AI travel assistant for business travel, built on leading LLMs trained on travel contexts, handling planning, booking, payment, and invoicing through a conversational interface. Acquired by Revolut in October 2025.
• cloopio Digital booking platform for team offsites that enables companies to book offsite packages (transfers, accommodation, meeting rooms, catering, team-building activities) in a few clicks. Acquired by Project JUNE in December 2025.
• TNMT (tnmt.com) Industry deep-dive platform and bi-weekly newsletter (travelandmobility.tech) delivering data-driven market intelligence, reports, infographics, and analyses on travel and mobility tech trends for digital innovation professionals.
• cabinblu Science-backed meditation app for flight anxiety, co-developed with psychologists and aviation specialists, offering personalized expert-led content, breathing exercises, and offline anxiety-management techniques for use during flights.
• Startup Gate (Venture Clienting) Lufthansa Group's Venture Clienting unit that brings startup technologies into the Group to address operational challenges, enabling startups to scale through Lufthansa Group's resources and global reach via Startup Gate applications.
• Founder Program Six-month incubation program inviting founders with strong ideas to develop their venture within the Lufthansa Group and Lufthansa Innovation Hub ecosystem, from initial validation to market entry and scaling.
• Digital Innovation Ascent Flagship leadership training program on digital innovation for mid-level management at Lufthansa Group, consisting of a 6-week hybrid Base Camp and deep-dive High Camps covering digital trends, innovation methodologies, and innovative organizations.
• Innovation Trail 9-week online training program for Lufthansa Group employees divided into ideation, exploration, and validation phases, where participants work in teams to solve real challenges and develop MVP solutions.
• Changemaker Challenge Global competition for sustainable innovation ideas in travel and mobility tech, launched in partnership with Expedia, Google, and UBER, seeking digital solutions along the entire travel chain to advance sustainability.
• Innovation Masterclass Subscription-based training program offered via academy.lh-innovationhub.com, providing structured innovation methodology training for corporate teams.

Quantifiable outcome

• Spun off multiple successful ventures including Cosmos, NAVIT, SQUAKE, Uptrip; Swifty acquired by Revolut
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability14 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Project JUNEminorOthers · 3 December 2025Project JUNE acquired cloopio from Lufthansa Innovation Hub in December 2025 to accelerate network of 'third places' for offsites, retreats, and workshops.
• RevolutminorOthers · 14 October 2025Leading global fintech Revolut acquired Swifty, the AI travel assistant developed at Lufthansa Innovation Hub. Deal represents successful venture exit.
• Munich Airport Terminal 2coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2025MoU signed to drive innovation in aviation. Collaboration on service robots and digital transformation projects at MUC Terminal 2.
• Cosmos (Spun-off Entity)minorOthers · 26 November 2024Cosmos spun off from LIH in November 2024 to digitize service provider management operations. Now operates as independent company.
• ADR Innovation HubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2024Partnership to accelerate innovation between Rome's Aeroporti di Roma and Lufthansa Innovation Hub. Both innovation hubs collaborate on digital transformation initiatives for airport operations.
• SQUAKE (Spun-off Entity)minorOthers · 15 December 2021Climate-tech startup SQUAKE spun off in December 2021. Accelerating sustainability in travel industry through carbon offset services.
• Forward31 (Porsche Digital Company Builder)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2021Strategic minority shareholder in NAVIT from inception. Forward31 is Porsche Digital's company builder supporting mobility ventures.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• KLM Innovation Hub: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines' corporate innovation hub, also based in Europe and focused on incubating and partnering with travel-tech startups for KLM Group. Directly comparable as an airline-affiliated innovation lab with venture clienting, research output, and internal venture building.
• JetBlue Technology Ventures: Corporate venture arm of JetBlue Airways investing in early-stage travel, transportation, and hospitality startups. Comparable as an airline-affiliated CVC with portfolio management, startup acceleration, and strategic partnership components similar to LIH's mandate.
• Delta Air Lines Innovation: Delta Air Lines' internal innovation function driving digital transformation, partnerships, and emerging tech adoption across the airline. Comparable as another major airline's corporate innovation mandate with overlapping themes in AI, sustainability, and customer experience.
• Forward31 (Porsche Digital): Porsche Digital's company builder, and a strategic minority shareholder in NAVIT since NAVIT's LIH spin-off in 2021. Directly comparable as a corporate-affiliated venture builder in mobility with a venture clienting-style model.

Broad incumbents

• Lufthansa Systems: Sister company within Lufthansa Group providing IT services and digital solutions for the aviation industry. Highly comparable as a Lufthansa Group entity focused on aviation technology, though operating as a much larger incumbent IT services provider rather than an innovation lab/venture builder.
• Amadeus Ventures: Corporate venture arm of Amadeus IT Group, the major travel technology GDS provider. Comparable as a travel-tech-focused CVC that invests in startups and partners with airlines, OTAs, and other travel players on adjacent innovation themes to LIH.
• Plug and Play Travel & Hospitality: Global startup accelerator and venture investor with a dedicated Travel & Hospitality vertical that connects airlines, hotels, and travel startups. Comparable as a corporate-startup intermediation platform with similar GTM motion to LIH's Startup Gate.
• SITA: Air transport industry IT and communications specialist owned by airlines, serving most major carriers including Lufthansa Group. Comparable as an aviation-industry technology provider, though SITA operates as a much larger incumbent rather than an innovation lab/venture builder.

Emerging players

• Techstars Travel: Techstars accelerator program focused on travel and hospitality startups, partnering with airlines and travel brands to source and accelerate portfolio companies. Comparable as a travel-focused startup accelerator with corporate partnership dynamics similar to LIH's Founder Program.
• Hopper: Montreal-based AI-driven travel booking platform and LIH portfolio company (2019 strategic investment, ~EUR 10M). Comparable as a travel-tech AI startup with Lufthansa Group partnership and overlapping themes in LLM-driven travel and price prediction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/6425832
• Xx.com/lufthansa_de

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments6 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lufthansa Innovation Hub