Rotterdam, October 2025 – Aeroborn is pleased to announce that Chief Technology Officer Carland Lopez will participate as a panelist at the Valencia Digital Summit (VDS) on October 23rd, addressing the critical challenge of financing first-of-a-kind (FOAK) industrial projects in Europe's cleantech sector.

Bridging the Valley of Death

The session, titled "First-of-a-Kind Finance," will explore one of the most significant barriers facing European deep tech companies: securing capital to scale from pilot projects to full commercial deployment. This "valley of death" has traditionally left many promising technologies stranded between proof-of-concept and market entry.

"FOAK projects represent a unique financing challenge," explains Lopez. "You're not just scaling proven technology—you're de-risking the entire industrial process while demonstrating commercial viability. This requires patient capital and partners who understand both the technical complexity and the strategic importance of establishing European manufacturing leadership."

A Timely Discussion for European Climate Tech

The panel brings together three complementary perspectives on FOAK financing:

• Emin Askerov (Founder & CEO, Akari Consulting) will discuss enabling structures and stakeholder collaboration

• Mirjam Terhorst (Partner, Move Energy) will explore financial instruments including blended finance and guarantee mechanisms

• Carland Lopez (CTO, Aeroborn) will address the engineering and operational requirements that make FOAK projects fundable

The discussion is particularly relevant as European climate tech companies face mounting pressure to scale quickly in response to regulatory mandates while competing against well-capitalized Chinese manufacturers entering European markets.

Aeroborn's FOAK Journey

Aeroborn's experience scaling commercial graphite recovery technology exemplifies the FOAK financing challenge. "The leap to our first commercial facility requires innovative financing structures—combining grants, equity, debt, and strategic partnerships," notes Lopez.

"Hardware is essential for climate transition," Lopez emphasizes. "Europe has world-class engineering talent. What we need are financing mechanisms that recognize the strategic value of establishing domestic manufacturing in critical technologies."

About Valencia Digital Summit

VDS brings together entrepreneurs, investors, corporates, and policymakers focused on accelerating Europe's digital and climate transition. The session takes place on October 23rd. More information: https://vds.tech