Turning Childhood Fascination into Reality, The Flight Suit Prototype Journey with Co-founder Andrea Giannini 

From my childhood, the world of computers fascinated me deeply. The idea that complex machines could simplify and revolutionise our lives, enabling even the untrained to master them with ease, filled me with wonder. This intrigue led me down the path of computer engineering, a route marked with countless lessons, experiences, and growth.

I obtained my bachelor's in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), then I worked at CERN in Geneva. After that I went on to pursue my Master's degree in EECS, specialising in computer architecture. Shortly after, I found myself in Zurich, at the epicentre of air mobility technology. It was my time here, in Zurich, that truly inspired and shaped my vision. It was there I got my first glimpse into the world of unmanned aerial vehicles, a feat that once again astounded me with the capabilities of computer systems. While there, I had the good fortune of seeing the work of Raffaello D'Andrea, founder of Kiva Systems, now known as Amazon Robotics. His team's work on unmanned aerial vehicles was groundbreaking, a testimony to the marvels of computer engineering and control robotics.

It was around this time I came across a TED talk by Richard Browning on jet suits. I was astounded by the idea that jetpacks, once considered only a product of science fiction, were now a reality. However, the technology was far from perfect, with user safety and ease of use being significant concerns. Jet suits required exceptional upper body strength and/or a keen sense of balance, making them challenging to handle and highly unsafe.

It was a lightbulb moment for me. Could we apply the advancements in robotics and control engineering to the world of jetpacks, creating something safe and easy for everyone to use? I pitched this idea to Richard (it was really nice of him to take the time of reading my emails), but at the time, I was still entrenched in academia and unsure how to proceed.

Fast forward a couple of years, and I joined Exovolar as a Co-Founder. My Co-Founder, Guanhao Wu (Hao), had started the company a year before me with a vision remarkably similar to mine - to make jetpack technology safe and accessible for all. Together, we set out on a journey to turn this dream into reality.

The road to the first prototype

Our first few months at Exovolar were far from glamorous. We were stationed in a small commercial warehouse in New Jersey with bullet holes in the windows and no proper HVAC system. It was just Hao and I, fueled by our shared vision to democratise flight, unbiased by market trends or potential use cases.

We delved into the history of jetpacks, realising that the technology had never been deemed safe enough for practical applications. It was then we decided that at Exovolar, we would prioritise safety above all else. We vowed to create a system that would allow the pilot to fly without having to balance in mid-air, thus eliminating the inherent risks of jetpacks.

Our research led us to a concept called thrust vectoring, a technology used by SpaceX to land rockets and by fighter jets to perform advanced high-performance manoeuvres. Implementing thrust vectoring on a jet suit proved challenging due to our constraints. Hao took it upon himself to adapt this complex technology into a simpler form, suitable for our needs. His success led to the filing and awarding of a patent and marked the beginning of our capability demonstrations.

During this period, we were self-funded and operated only by the two of us. We handled everything from operations to design, software writing, and even cleaning the warehouse. Our initial funding came from Hao's family, the first true believers of our journey.

The next milestone was the creation of our first jet suit prototype. It took months to reach the stage where we could lift-off using our safety tethering system. Finally, we had confirmed the fruit of our efforts. The journey to free flight was still far, filled with challenges, but that first flight made us realise that nothing was impossible.

With our first prototype, we began focusing on the business side of things. I made my fair share of mistakes along the way, getting distracted by market opportunities, and straying from our core vision. Our interactions with potential investors often left us questioning our direction, even considering pivoting to service drones.

Our breakthrough came when we met Ryan Kuder, Managing Director at Techstars from the Techstars Anywhere program. Ryan believed in us and our vision, invested in our idea and provided us with an invaluable support network. 

I want to share with every founder reading this: your first investors won't be investing in your product, and they might not even be investing in the problem. Instead, they are investing in you. Every early-stage investor knows that things will go wrong; such is the nature of startup life. But if they decide to back you, it's because they have faith in your ability to make the right decisions when the hard times inevitably come.

Ryan’s faith in us, more than just in our product, was profoundly reassuring. His belief that we could navigate the rough waters of startup life, make the right choices when faced with obstacles, bolstered our confidence.

Emboldened by Ryan's faith in us, we decided to double down on our vision. We resumed our quest to make flight accessible for everyone, equipped with lessons from our journey and our mistakes.

Simultaneously, I began travelling to share our mission, speaking at various events, including those in Dubai and other parts of the Middle East. Our conversations made us realise that there were others who shared our vision and were willing to support us. This connection with our audience led to rapid growth.

From our humble beginnings in a small warehouse in New Jersey, we now operate out of a beautiful space in Brooklyn. Our team has expanded to include talented individuals from around the world. We are testing new prototypes, developing products, and have a growing line of customers and investors eager to join us on our journey. Our progress may seem swift in retrospect, but it was a result of tireless effort, countless sleepless nights, and unwavering dedication. 

As a Co-Founder of Exovolar, I am but a small part of this magnificent venture. My team, our supporters, and our shared vision for a future where flight is accessible to all have been instrumental in our journey so far. My personal ambition is not just to make people fly but to inspire a shift in perspective, encouraging progress over conflict.

The journey of a startup is hard, full of uncertainties and setbacks, but remember, you are not alone. If you're reading this and need support in your entrepreneurial journey, feel free to contact me on LinkedIn (agiannini94) or via email (agiannini@exovolar.com). Let's make the impossible possible, together.