Overwatch AI secures $1.5m pre-seed funding to modernise airline operations

Aviation operations platform Overwatch AI has secured $1.5 million (£1.1 million) in pre-seed funding as it looks to expand its AI-powered system designed to support pilots, cabin crew and airline operations teams.

The funding round included investment from United Airlines Ventures and Baobab Ventures, led by investor Carles Reina. Additional backing came from Pegasus Innovation Lab and Masia, alongside angel investors including former Tenstorrent chief commercial officer David Bennett and former Cirium vice president Alex Brooker.

Founded in July 2025 by former airline pilot Leo Kotil and technology entrepreneur Nikita Kaeshko, the platform has been developed to simplify the process of accessing critical operational information across airline systems.

Airline crews and operations staff often need to consult multiple fragmented systems and large volumes of documentation before and during flights in order to maintain compliance, safety and operational efficiency. Overwatch AI consolidates those information sources into a single platform, allowing staff to query operational data using natural language.

The company said the technology is already being used in live operations across multiple airlines, handling more than 30,000 flights per month. According to Overwatch AI, the system can save individual team members around 150 hours annually while reducing operational inefficiencies worth up to $4 million (£2.9 million) per airline each year.

The firm also claims aviation teams using the platform have recorded a 4.6-times increase in compliant decision-making and a 6.6% increase in crew productivity.

Kotil said the technology was developed to tackle long-standing inefficiencies experienced by flight crews and operational teams.

“After nearly a decade as a pilot, I know how painfully disjointed many of the pre- and in-flight processes are,” he said.

“You are trawling through various apps and systems based on outdated software, trying to piece together the information you need to take action. You spend more time on this than flying the plane.

“The AI does the hard work of trawling through the reams of documentation and dozens of operational data sources, making sense of it and connecting the dots, surfacing the answers and insights airline teams are looking for.”

Overwatch AI said all answers generated by the platform are fully sourced and based on official operational documentation or data, helping crews make faster decisions with confidence while maintaining compliance standards.

The company provides a full-stack AI solution, handling system integrations, data processing and AI management tailored to each airline customer.

The newly secured funding will be used to expand the company’s team, increase operational capabilities and accelerate deployment with additional airlines over the coming months.

Reina said the aviation sector represented a major opportunity for AI-driven operational improvements.

“People travel more than ever, and flight operations are the critical component of reliability, satisfaction and revenue growth for airlines,” he said.

“Overwatch AI has proven that deploying Agentic systems to live operations generates millions of dollars in savings, delivers better experience for passengers, and puts technology at the forefront of a very complex industry.”

Pegasus Airlines Innovation Lab managing director Kurtulus Ozturk said the airline had become both a design partner and investor in the platform.

“Through this partnership, Pegasus contributes real-world operational context, extensive documentation, and direct crew feedback to tailor and scale Overwatch AI within a live airline environment,” he said.

“As a result, our pilots and cabin crew can instantly access critical information through natural language, improving decision-making, operational efficiency, and on-time performance, ultimately enhancing passenger satisfaction.”