All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest and 5-Star airline for seven consecutive years will be joining Plug and Play, a global innovation platform that brings together leaders from the best startups and the world’s largest corporations.
Connecting entrepreneurs with and innovators with those that have the resources to make their vision a reality, Plug and Play is a unique opportunity for all involved. Over the course of the three-year partnership, ANA will benefit from the on-the-ground insight offered by cutting edge startups in the Travel & Hospitality field while providing global perspective for the next generation of business leaders.
“Innovation has always been part of our DNA, and this partnership with Plug and Play will allow us to build stronger connections with the next generation of innovators,” said Akihiko Miura, Executive Vice President of ANA. “We look forward to embracing the opportunities offered by Plug and Play, the things that we learn at these forums will inform our decisions going forward on everything from sustainability to technological integration. As partners in Plug and Play’s Travel & Hospitality vertical, we will look for ways to apply the latest technologies and work with partners to define the future of travel and hospitality.”
“We are excited to welcome ANA to the Plug and Play family, we feel that their participation in future Plug and Play conferences will offer benefits to all involved,” said Amir Amidi, Manager Partner of Plug and Play’s Travel & Hospitality program. “Plug and Play seeks to unite creative thinkers and entrepreneurs from every country, background and sector of the market. ANA’s unique perspective will be invaluable to all Plug and Play participants, from those seeking VC funding for their startups to the most established global brands.”
Travel is an $8 billion dollar a year industry, accounting for roughly 10 percent of the global economy. Within this space, there is ample room for disruption, and Plug and Play seeks to streamline the breakthroughs that will define the future of travel. Plug and Play already counts several prominent airlines as corporate partners and will work to expand its reach to include leaders from the travel and hospitality field.
Beginning this month, ANA will open operations for its “Dealflow” program designed to pair startups with technologies and services that can help the airline remain at the cutting edge of problem solving and innovation. The ongoing partnership with Plug and Play will provide ANA maximize open innovation by connecting it with startups and entrepreneurs that are working at the cutting edge.
Working with the world’s largest innovation platform, allows ANA to identify potential partners and collaborate with the most innovative startups efficiently and effectively. Furthermore, ANA’s relationship with Plug and Play helps ANA enhance everything from service to human resource efficiency. The smart technology revolution has radically transformed the way that the majority of people travel, and ANA will be placed in a prime position to capitalize on future trends as a Plug and Play corporate partner.
