In this exciting episode of our podcast, we catch up with three dynamic leaders at the forefront of aviation and technology: Thierry Rosolin, General Manager of MBAviation; Yannick Beunardeau, Co-Founder and CEO of Kepler Digitals; and Pierre Beunardeau, Co-Founder and CEO of Galileo Protocol.
We were introduced to MBAviation, where Thierry guided us through the company’s remarkable journey from its humble beginnings in ground handling to its current role as a comprehensive provider of diverse aviation services. He emphasized the company’s unwavering commitment to its mission and showcased its embrace of multimodal activities and strategic digital partnerships.
Keep reading to discover Kepler Digitals, Galileo Protocol, and MBAviation updates!
Genfinity’s Interview Panel
MBAviation
Thierry Rosolin, the General Manager of MBAviation, had a remarkable journey in the aviation industry. With 15 years of experience under his belt, he spoke about his company’s evolution. Initially, MBAviation sprang from the ground handling sector, and over the years, it expanded its offerings to encompass nearly every service available in the industry, including ground services, catering, and general business aviation.
Recognizing the rapid pace of innovation reshaping the sector, Thierry emphasized that more than focusing solely on traditional ground services was needed. Instead, MBAviation aimed to embrace multimodal activities, a strategy that would set the company apart. They began collaborating closely with digital solution providers, notably Amadeus, to drive this transformation. As a result, this partnership allowed them to innovate further by offering consultancy, training, and enhanced services.
Kepler Digitals
Yannick Beunardeau, the Co-Founder and CEO of Kepler Digitals, shared an inspiring narrative that traced the roots of his passion for aviation. From an early age, he had what he called “aviation DNA.” This deep-seated interest naturally guided him toward a career that spanned various facets of the industry, including aircraft maintenance, aircraft building, airport operations, and airline operations. Eventually, he found himself at Amadeus nearly three decades ago, contributing to developing IT solutions tailored for the ground handling sector.
Both Yannick and Thierry had built a collaborative relationship while at Amadeus. Their shared commitment to innovation fostered new initiatives from the ground up, paving the way for success. Subsequently, when Yannick departed from Amadeus, he naturally continued this partnership, which laid the groundwork for Kepler Digitals.
Established in May 2024, Kepler Digitals emerged from a vision that began three years earlier when Yannick served as an advisor to the Galileo Protocol. The company stood at the forefront of innovation, particularly as the first company to integrate blockchain technology into the aviation sector.
Galileo Protocol
The Co-founder and CEO of Galileo Protocol shared an inspiring journey into the world of technology and aviation. Although not immersed in aviation from a young age, Pierre Beunardeau’s early fascination with web development sparked a lifelong passion. This led to various initiatives, culminating in blockchain product development.
Galileo Protocol emerged nearly three years ago, capitalizing on the NFT boom in 2021. The founder recognized that NFTs provided an intelligent way to establish ownership in the digital art realm while addressing broader challenges in verifying the traceability of physical items.
Consequently, integrating blockchain technology ensured transparency for real-world assets, including luxury items and airport assets within Kepler Digital. Furthermore, a notable synergy formed between Kepler and MBAviation, who sought to combat diploma counterfeiting, thus prompting the exploration of blockchain solutions.
Additionally, the protocol utilized blockchain and artificial intelligence to authenticate luxury goods, transforming purchases into heritage stories. The innovative concept of the physical non-fungible token (pNFT) enhanced communication between luxury brands and consumers.
Recognizing that 55% of luxury customers were open to using cryptocurrency, the company developed solutions for luxury brands to accept it as payment. This shift reflected the growing interest among Generation Z and millennials, who were purchasing luxury products and engaging with cryptocurrency.
The goal is to create practical opportunities for cryptocurrency holders to use their assets in everyday transactions. By connecting luxury brands with the Web3 audience, Galileo Protocol positions itself as a pioneering force at the intersection of luxury and technology, shaping the future of both industries.
Enhancing Aviation Certification: The Impact of Blockchain Technology
Genfinity’s CEO, Ryan, asked for insights into the partnership between MBAviation and Galileo Protocol, particularly regarding how blockchain technology could enhance the certification process for maintenance personnel and other roles in the airline industry. He expressed interest in exploring the current state of how diplomas and certifications were managed — questioning whether the process was fragmented or problematic — and how bringing these credentials onto the blockchain could improve authenticity and streamline verification.
Thierry explained that, in the aviation sector, misconceptions about strict management and authenticity often clouded reality. Many believed that everything was well-tracked, but the truth revealed significant challenges. Tracking diplomas and certifications for ground personnel posed a major issue. Each year, countless individuals enter the industry, requiring extensive training, yet managing these training processes needs to be improved.
The need for proper certification tracking left a gap in verifying the identities of those who underwent training, creating a pressing dilemma. With a high demand for airport staff, authorities needed help to ensure that the right people held the appropriate certifications. Even during airline audits, the absence of reliable verification raised concerns about compliance and safety.
However, the introduction of Galileo Protocol offered a promising solution. The process could be streamlined by leveraging blockchain technology, ensuring that individuals receive the necessary training and certifications while allowing for effective tracking. The initiative aimed to provide proof to airlines and ground handling companies, ensuring they hired qualified personnel with verified skills.
Ultimately, this effort promised to benefit everyone involved, enhancing the integrity of the aviation workforce and contributing to safer, more efficient operations across the industry.
The Vital Role of Ground Personnel in Aviation
To complement what Thierry had shared, Yannick provided an insightful overview of the aviation market. He noted that, during any flight, passengers might be surprised to see more ground personnel around the aircraft than the aircrew inside. In France alone, over 50,000 individuals worked in this sector, and during peak times — such as the summer and busy weekends — interim staff were often brought on board for just a few days.
These workers were crucial for ensuring the safety and security of departing aircraft. Therefore, it was essential for them to receive the proper training and regular refreshers to maintain their skills. However, this process was largely manual; while paper diplomas were issued to verify training, they ultimately represented only a piece of paper.
Transforming Aviation with pNFTs: The Future of Certification and Operational Efficiency
Introducing physical non-fungible tokens (pNFTs) offered a transformative solution—a digital twin of each diploma that could enhance verification processes.
Yannick expressed confidence that authorities would mandate such technology within five years, positioning MBAviation as a potential leader in this innovative shift. If they were the first to implement these digital solutions, they would gain a competitive edge over other training centers. He emphasized the urgent need for the aviation industry to adopt these practices, especially with predictions indicating that air travel would double by 2040, reaching 8 billion passengers annually.
Meanwhile, he also raised another crucial aspect related to aircraft operations — the process of signing off on weight and balance. This critical procedure required tracking by trained personnel, highlighting that training was only one part of the equation. Additionally, he mentioned that the logistics surrounding spare parts and aircraft processes were equally eligible for tokenization.
Yannick concluded by pointing out the importance of pioneering efforts in the aviation space, viewing the initiative as a societal mission rather than merely a financial investment. While capital was undoubtedly beneficial, the primary goal remained to make aviation safer and greener.
Exploring the Broader Implications of Blockchain: Insights from Galileo Protocol
Ryan asked the panel to expand on the broader implications of using blockchain technology across various sectors, particularly the Galileo platform. He acknowledged that luxury goods were a prominent use case but highlighted many other potential applications, such as credentialing. He sought insights into how the underlying technology, like digital twins, could enable multiple industries to adopt and benefit from Galileo’s capabilities.
Expanding on the exciting developments at Galileo Protocol, Pierre discussed how the team had spent the past two years building a marketplace for tokenizing luxury assets. Initially, it served as a proof of concept, but with strategic partnerships with MBAviation and Kepler Digitals, the vision expanded beyond luxury goods. Furthermore, he revealed they were now developing a comprehensive tokenization platform, incorporating artificial intelligence to enhance user interaction.
When potential users arrived on the platform, a friendly chatbot greeted them, ready to assist with their tokenization needs. Whether an individual wanted to tokenize a university diploma or another asset, the Galileo Protocol chatbot guided them through the process, asking questions to tailor the experience. For instance, if someone wished to tokenize a diploma from Princeton University, the chatbot inquired whether they were an individual or a recognized institution, ensuring that the pNFT could be validated by the university, thus enhancing its value and credibility.
The CEO also emphasized the importance of creating a user-friendly experience, recognizing that blockchain technology often lagged behind traditional web applications in terms of usability. Therefore, the design focused on simplicity, enabling individuals and companies to tokenize their assets efficiently. Notably, they planned to implement Know Your Customer (KYC) and Know Your Business (KYB) processes to authenticate the tokenization of diplomas further, reinforcing trust in the system.
Addressing Document Security
He recounted a humorous anecdote from his travels at age 23 when he had arrived at an airport without a return ticket. Faced with the airline’s refusal to let him board, he cleverly crafted a fake ticket using Photoshop. This experience underscored the ease with which documents could be counterfeited, highlighting the critical need for security in aviation. With blockchain technology, Pierre aimed to address such vulnerabilities, ensuring authenticity in documentation.
Furthermore, he noted that MBAviation was poised to be a pioneer in diploma tokenization not only in France but also across Europe. He referenced other universities, such as the University of Nicosia and the University of California, Berkeley, which had successfully utilized blockchain to reduce fraud by significant margins. This progress indicated a growing recognition of the benefits that blockchain technology could bring to the educational sector and beyond.
Tackling Industry Challenges
Moving along in the interview, Ryan inquired about the broader challenges facing the aviation industry, particularly in areas like luggage tracking, airport management, and green aviation.
Thierry discussed significant opportunities for improvement within the aviation sector, particularly regarding baggage tracking. He noted that the airline policies had changed considerably over the years. Previously, airlines included baggage fees in the ticket price, allowing passengers to travel seamlessly with their luggage. However, travelers now often faced additional charges for extra services, a shift that added to their frustrations.
Furthermore, Thierry pointed out that baggage service typically started and ended at the airport, leaving a gap in the passenger experience. He proposed the idea of “off-airport initiatives,” which would allow for baggage handling outside of traditional airport boundaries. This innovative approach could involve transporting luggage directly to passengers’ hotels or other locations, relieving them of this pain point.
MBAviation’s General Manager suggested that there was potential for collaboration with Kepler Digitals to enhance baggage tracking beyond the conventional aviation processes currently in place. This solution could represent a valuable use case for streamlining the travel experience and improving overall passenger satisfaction.
The Path to Sustainability: Navigating Green Initiatives in the Aviation Industry
The conversation shifted to green energy, with Genfinity asking for insights on the aviation industry’s direction concerning sustainability. Essentially, we wanted to explore the industry’s urgent need to adopt green initiatives in light of global environmental goals in the light of understanding how aviation plans to meet these challenges.
Yannick highlighted the need for the aviation industry to become carbon neutral by 2050, a goal looming closer yearly. He explained that this ambitious target must align with the expected doubling of air traffic, which posed significant challenges. However, he expressed confidence in human ingenuity and the creativity of engineers to drive this transformation.
He elaborated on the critical shift towards sustainable energy sources for aircraft. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) emerged as a key player, along with the importance of carbon credits, emphasizing the need to ensure their authenticity. In this space, blockchain technology could provide valuable solutions. Additionally, he noted the exciting advancements in electric aviation, with manufacturers gearing up to introduce short-haul electric aircraft within the next five years.
Another promising avenue for future energy was hydrogen, which presented its own set of challenges, particularly regarding storage and safety. He stressed the importance of establishing robust systems from the outset to ensure traceability and prevent counterfeiting in aviation components.
Aircraft Design and Air Mobility
Yannick also touched on the evolution of aircraft design, indicating that new aerodynamic principles would change how planes look and operate. This, combined with emerging technologies, was crucial for achieving carbon neutrality.
Moreover, he discussed the rise of Advanced Air Mobility, which included concepts like flying taxis. As urban traffic congestion escalated, the demand for electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles was likely to grow, necessitating careful airspace management.
Moving forward, traditional methods would no longer suffice. The integration of blockchain technology was essential to ensure the security and traceability of all aspects of aviation, paving the way for a greener future.
Project Updates from Galileo Protocol, Kepler Digitals, and MBAviation
Galileo Protocol Update: Strategic Restructuring and Innovative Initiatives for Future Growth
Pierre Beunardeau shared exciting updates from the Galileo organization, highlighting significant developments to propel the company forward. He announced the establishment of a new entity in Switzerland but emphasized the decision to restructure and consolidate efforts into a cohesive base in France. This transition marked a pivotal moment for Galileo. They embraced a new physical office setup, fostering a strong company culture focused on high performance and organizing 25 interviews to expand their team.
Additionally, Pierre discussed a marketing initiative with a German agency renowned for its work with brands like Mercedes and Skoda. They planned a workshop to revamp Galileo’s branding, including its logo and social media presence, and he expressed enthusiasm about launching a podcast and creating promotional content to establish Galileo in the luxury market. He also hinted at an upcoming event in Dubai, where they would showcase digital passports—pNFTs—detailing vehicle ownership for attendees.
Finally, Pierre addressed the much-anticipated mobile version of the Galileo marketplace and the upcoming staking platform, designed to allow token holders to stake their assets and participate in governance. Currently under review for security, the platform aimed to ensure robust protection against vulnerabilities, with white-hat hackers invited to test its security.
In summary, Pierre encapsulated the ambitious restructuring, marketing initiatives, and technological advancements underway at Galileo as they prepared for an exciting future in 2024 and beyond.
ICO Launch and Exciting New Projects on the Horizon for Keplar Digitals
Yannick shared two significant updates about Kepler Digitals, starting with the exciting news of their ongoing ICO. Currently in the private sale phase, the public sale will launch on October 1 and run through the end of November, culminating in the token generation event and listing. The team dedicated their efforts to creating and auditing smart contracts, ensuring everything was seamless and secure. With investments nearing $800,000, they felt confident that the listing would proceed without a hitch, initially on decentralized exchanges like Uniswap before moving to centralized exchanges in the weeks to follow.
In addition to the ICO, Yannick highlighted the development of their first minimal viable products. They had signed contracts for two key projects: one focused on tokenizing diplomas in collaboration with an aviation partner and another involving pads for drones. This mini version aimed to tokenize drone missions, paralleling their efforts in classical aviation. Excitement buzzed around these projects, with ongoing discussions hinting at further opportunities in the pipeline.
Finally, Yannick noted the growing interest in Kepler from venture capitalists and traditional companies seeking strategic advice on blockchain implementation. This interest showcases the value of Kepler’s vision and capabilities, which continued to attract trust and collaboration even before the ICO launch. With a focus on MVPs and the ICO, the CEO remains passionate and determined to push the boundaries of what Kepler could achieve.
MBAviation: Tokenizing Certifications and Embracing Future Mobility Innovations
Thierry Rosolin, the visionary behind MBAviation, wrapped up his segment by discussing a groundbreaking project focused on tokenizing certifications. He recognized the vast potential within the African market, having cultivated strong relationships with local partners. Thierry noted that many African nations sought credibility, improvement, and robust tracking systems. Consequently, he and his team dedicated significant time to collaborating with these partners, believing their combined efforts could lead to substantial regional advancements.
Additionally, Thierry expressed enthusiasm for developing Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (EVTOL) tools. He acknowledged that the aviation landscape was profoundly transforming, expanding beyond traditional boundaries. No longer confined to airplanes alone, the industry was evolving to integrate various modes of transportation, including buses, taxis, and trams. This holistic approach to mobility underscored a pivotal shift in the aviation sector.
However, as he discussed these innovations, Thierry emphasized the importance of combining aviation with cutting-edge technologies such as blockchain and tokenization. He envisioned a future where these elements worked in tandem, creating seamless solutions for the market.
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