Ben Kloss is Director at Plug and Play Abu Dhabi, responsible for innovation partnerships with aviation companies such as Fraport, Austrian Airlines, Vienna Airport, Aeroporti di Roma, Sky Team, WestJet and many more. Before moving to the UAE in 2023, he led Plug and Play’s European Travel & Hospitality vertical based in Vienna, Austria. The aviation-focused matchmaking powerhouse and innovation platform connects key industry players with the world’s most innovative young tech companies. Starting in 2017, he was an early employee at Plug and Play’s mobility vertical, “Startup Autobahn,” and supported its growth. With more than 30 partners, including Mercedes, Porsche, Hyundai, Linde, and Bosch, it is one of Plug and Play’s largest and most successful offices today. Since its inception in 2006, Plug and Play has expanded across 20+ industries to 60+ global locations, including the GCC region, and invests in more than 200 startups annually - making it one of the most active investors in the world. Ben holds a M.Sc. in Economics from the University of Copenhagen (Denmark) and studied at the University of Heidelberg (Germany), San Francisco State University (United States) and Boston College (United States). He gained practical experience living and working in Melbourne, Australia, and at the automotive manufacturer Porsche in Stuttgart, Germany.

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