Galeri: The Venture Leader Mobile innovating aviation with immersive solutions

Meet Ajintha Pathmanathan, CEO of Galeri. The Medtech startup is improving the aviation and travel industries with advanced VR/AR solutions. In March, Ajintha will join nine other innovators on a business development and investor roadshow in Barcelona.

Name: Ajintha Pathmanathan
Location: Zurich
Nationality: Australia
Graduated from: Oxford University
Job title: CEO
Number of employees: 9
Money raised:  USD 50K 

Can you tell us who your product or solution helps, and how?
Galeri is our holding company where we incubate solutions with a mission to improve societal and individual well-being and health. Our Solution–Verse.i–is a biocybernetic feedback AI solution that uses individual biomarker feedback to personalize and optimize XR / VR media. A use case that we are currently exploring is for aviation training–aircraft engineers, cabin crew, and pilot training. 
We also explored optimizing experiences for travellers–a particular use case was neurodiverse travellers, who comprise approximately 12.5% of the population. 

What market are you addressing and what is the potential of your startup in that market?
Aviation Industry–we have already won the Future Travel Experience (part of APEX) Innovate Awards 2024 for “Best New Passenger Experience Concept”. We have since been asked by an airport to develop a solution for neurodiverse travellers. We are also in discussions regarding training solutions. 
 

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How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup?
A friend who brought BCG to Switzerland shared his idea for immersive media rooms, which led me to identify a need for VR/AR media at airports. With my experience in the aviation industry, I leveraged my network to explore this opportunity. After discussing it with Zurich Airport, we won the FTE 2024 award, confirming the market potential. We are developing a deep-tech solution with a team of experts in human-computer interaction, neuroscience, biosignal data science, and aviation.

What do you expect from the Venture Leaders roadshow, and how do you think it will help you achieve your vision?
Learning & Inspiration: A key fundamental benefit of the Venture Leaders roadshow will be learning and inspiration from our fellow startups, those whom we present to and arn 

Funding: Innovation goes where capital flows. As with all companies to build a high-quality team and product we need funding. So, this is a focus for us at the roadshow.

Networking: We love building relationships and networks. It is through the rich interactions with society that we can innovate–either through discovery or through the support of those in the network.  

What are your team’s key achievements to date?
1.    Corporate support and guidance–for example, our initial interaction with Zurich Airport
2.    FTE Innovate Awards 2024 winner–this inspired us to continue our work in the aviation industry. 
3.    Invitation by Airport client to propose a solution for neurodiverse passengers. 
4.    Invitation by aviation training provider to explore augmenting training solutions. 

Is there a key principle or value that guides you as you build your company?
Building solutions that improve society and individual well-being and society. 

What is the most important lesson you have learned as a founder?
Learn to adapt, pivot, and solve problems with limited resources.

What is your favorite productivity hack or tool and why?
Like interval training in sports, develop in sprints and ride the waves when you catch them. Of course, maintain baseline consistency and momentum. Because if you try to go at full pace even against the wind, you run the risk of burnout. 

What was your dream job when you were a child?
I had two dream jobs: professional tennis player and investigative journalist with a law degree. I trained in tennis for years but realized by 15 that I started too late for the global circuit. Inspired by 60 Minutes' Jana Wendt, I shifted to journalism. Subconsciously, tech and medicine always intrigued me. I grew up surrounded by my dad's tech, and I enjoyed helping others when they were sick or injured. Becoming an Anaesthetist was a dream I achieved, drawn by the tech in the operating theatre and understanding the human body.