This week Viva Air Labs, founded by Clyde Hutchinson, is introducing its first batch of inaugural Advisory Board members and Mentors. Its Advisory Board and Mentors will provide feedback and ideas to help strengthen the overall program.
Known for being a low-cost carrier, the company formerly known as Viva Colombia has developed a platform, that engages passengers, staff, innovators, and entrepreneurs through a series of projects that will push the boundaries of what people typically associate with air travel interface. Viva Air Labs is Latin America’s first airline innovation lab.
“One of our main goals is to figure out how to use the platform of being a low cost carrier to be part of the innovation process going on in the countries where we have flights,” said Clyde Hutchinson, Head of Innovation at Viva Air Labs, in an earlier interview.
“We want to harness innovation in Latin America by creating a space for Latin Americans to solve problems within Latin America.”
Viva Air is today the third-largest airline in Colombia and the second largest in Peru, where it was started in 2017.
Here are the first announced inaugural Advisory Board Members and Mentors. The organization Viva Air Labs will announce its second group later this month.
David Mendlen, Advisory Board Member
David Mendlen is a technology executive at Microsoft who, during his nearly 25-year career, has built and managed billion-dollar software businesses, nurtured software development providers, and driven significant growth.
David is also the Founder of The Decoded Show, and is also a member of the Board of Directors at Lifograph. Earlier he was the speechwriter for Steve Ballmer and Bill Gates.
Agostinho João Almeida, Advisory Board Member
Agostinho João Almeida is the Director of the Center for the 4th Industrial Revolution from the World Economic Forum.
He is also a Co-Founder of the incubator Venture Catalysts and is a Board Member at Digital Americas Pipeline Initiative (DAPI).
Earlier Agostinho was the Chief Operating Officer at Ruta N in Medellin, Antioquia.
Golnar Pooya, Mentor
Golnar Pooya is a Partner at IBM Services and has spent close to two decades helping enterprises capitalize on opportunities in new disruptive technologies, including in AI. In particular she is recognized for her expertise in AI for Good. She has also worked to help companies expand their ecosystems through platforms. Golnar is also an Advisor at the venture capital firm 7 Gate Ventures.
This article includes a client of an ESPACIO portfolio company.
