From university project to industry disruptor: Manchester start-up’s journey to airline innovation after £1.2m funding boost

Manchester-based start-up Arcube is taking flight with a bold vision to transform the airline industry, and it’s already gaining serious altitude after a £1.2m ($1.5m) funding round.

Fresh off the funding round led by Fuel Ventures and Oxford Capital Partners—alongside backing from aviation heavyweights like the Chairman and former CEO of Pegasus Airlines—Arcube is bringing cutting-edge data analytics to the skies.

Founded by University of Manchester graduates Prithveesh Reddy and Harvey Lowe, the company’s revolutionary “Passenger Intelligence Platform” is turning untapped passenger data into real-time revenue opportunities, promising to reshape how airlines think about post-flight engagement.

It uses advanced data analytics to track passenger behaviour and then suggests personalised upsells immediately after a flight. This can include allowing passengers to convert unused miles into priority booking, fast-track security and lounge access. 

“Airlines have vast amounts of passenger data—what people eat on board, how early they arrive at the airport, how long they spend in lounges—but much of it goes unused. Our platform bridges that gap by offering tailored, real-time options to passengers as soon as they get off the flight,” explained Reddy.

The tech was trialled by Etihad Airways and generated $1.6m in extra revenue “from just 1,300 passengers over the course of a year.” 

“We didn’t have a track record, so we offered to build the software at our own risk, asking only for a share of the additional revenue we could generate. It was a bold approach, but after months of negotiations, Etihad agreed,” he added.

Arcube started out at The University of Manchester’s Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC), but has now moved into new headquarters in Manchester’s Sister.

READ MORE: £1.7billion innovation district ID Manchester is now Sister

“Our ambition is to create the world’s largest data set for travel ancillaries,” Reddy continued.

“Ancillaries already account for up to 20% of revenue for traditional airlines, and for low-cost carriers, it’s often more than 50%. We’re starting with airlines, but our vision extends to the entire travel ecosystem—car rentals, cruise lines, hotels.” With a combination of technical expertise, entrepreneurial grit, and early success, Arcube looks set to become a major player in travel tech. As the startup scales its platform and expands its client base, it’s poised to offer a smarter, data-driven approach to airline loyalty and revenue generation.”

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