UC 1819 startup, Airtrek Robotics helps city lift off as innovation testbed
Councilmember Mark Jeffreys unveils bold ‘City as a Lab’ initiative
The City of Cincinnati made a bold leap into the future of innovation and a UC Venture Lab startup, Airtrek Robotics, was there to pilot the rollout, according to Fox19 News.
Councilmember Mark Jeffreys, in partnership with the University of Cincinnati’s 1819 Innovation Hub, and other key startup supporters such as Cintrifuse, CincyTech and Alloy Growth Lab, officially launched the “City as a Lab," a city-wide initiative designed to position Cincinnati as a real-world proving ground for cutting-edge technology.
Frontal view of Lunken Airport's historic terminal. Photo/Rhine Media.
At the center of the rollout was a live demonstration by Airtrek Robotics, a rising 1819 and Cintrifuse startup transforming aviation ground operations through AI-powered automation. The autonomous “Intelligent, Robotic Inspection System,” (also known as “Iris”) rolled onto the tarmac to showcase her smart handling of aircraft safety operations in real-time. Airtrek’s technology platform is designed to streamline safety and efficiency in aircraft ground handling.
Not even the rain could dampen the excitement of attendees as they waited, umbrellas in hand, to see the airport robot take to the tarmac.
Councilmember, Mark Jeffreys kicked off the 'City as a Lab' initiative. Photo/Greg Glevicky.
“This kind of collaboration is a win-win,” said Jeffreys as he welcomed dignitaries to the event. “Startups gain credibility and traction, and the city gets early access to innovations that can improve public services. This ‘City as a Lab’ initiative builds on Cincinnati’s frontier innovation history to now make Cincinnati a test bed for technology that can scale well beyond the region.”
Through the UC Venture Lab program, Airtrek’s team took its concept from vision to commercialization.
Airtrek leads the way in next-generation autonomous solutions. The fact they’re building the future of aviation robotics at the 1819 Innovation Hub is a particular point of pride for us.
Ryan Hays UC Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer
J.B. Kropp, CEO of Cintrifuse. Photo: Rhine Media
Airtrek is an example of how startups can leverage the resources of Cincinnati’s “City as a Lab” initiative. Not only did the company receive entrepreneurial support and funding from the UC Venture Lab, but it also found training and resources from Cintrifuse Capital.
“We’re proud to support Airtrek as they scale cutting-edge technology from right here in Cincinnati,” said J.B. Kropp, CEO of Cintrifuse. “They’re a perfect example of the kind of founder-led innovation that’s gaining traction in our region – and this partnership with the city is exactly what we want to see more of: startups building with Cincinnati, not just in it.”
Airtrek has gained national attention for its work in the aviation sector, most recently as a standout participant in the South by Southwest pitch competition. The state of Ohio also awarded Airtrek with a $200,000 grant from the Technology Validation and Startup Fund.
From campus to commercializaton
Airtrek cofounder and chief technology officer, Huzefa Dossaji, explains how IRIS uses AI technology to keep aircraft and ground workers safe. Photo/Greg Glevicky.
Airtrek’s founding team tapped into the resources of the 1819 Innovation Hub to bring its robotic vision to life.
Iris was born using tools and machines inside the 12,500-square-foot 1819 Ground Floor Makerspace, where she took her first steps.
“Airtrek leads the way in next-generation autonomous solutions. The fact they’re building the future of aviation robotics at the 1819 Innovation Hub is a particular point of pride for us,” says Ryan Hays, UC’s executive vice president and chief innovation and strategy officer.
The pilot program at Lunken Airport marks the second for Airtrek and is a strong signal of Cincinnati’s growing momentum as a launchpad for high-growth startups. In 2024, Airtrek was part of another pilot program at Gerald R. Ford International Airport near Grand Rapids, Michigan.
"What passengers don’t see is how much of aviation still depends on repetitive, manual work,” said Airtrek co-founders Jon Taylor, Huzefa Dossaji, and Chris Lee. “Our mission is to bring modern automation to ground operations—boosting safety, improving reliability, and helping teams work smarter. Thanks to the support of Cintrifuse and the University of Cincinnati, we’ve been able to move faster, make the right connections, and unlock opportunities like this pilot.”
Photos from Left: Councilmember Mark Jeffreys (center) stands with UC Venture Lab and Airtrek team, and CEOs of Cintrifuse, Alloy Growth Lab and CincyTech; Councilmember Mark Jeffreys kicks off the city-wide initiative; Cintrifuse employees and CEO, J.B. Kropp stand with Airtrek Team. Photos: Rhine Media
Cover image: Airtrek removing foreign object debris at Lunken Airport. Photo: Rhine Media
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