Erik Lindbergh

Erik Lindbergh Speaker Biography

Son of Charles Lindbergh, X-Prize Co-Founder, TEDx Speaker, Pilot, and Entrepreneur

Artist, entrepreneur and speaker, Erik Lindbergh is the grandson of Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh. An avid pilot, Erik holds commercial, instrument, flight instructor, and glider ratings. In 1996, he helped launch the XPRIZE Foundation in St. Louis.

Son of Charles Lindbergh

In 2002 Erik retraced his grandfathers epic 1927 New York to Paris solo flight – raising over a million dollars and 500 million pre-social media impressions for XPRIZE. This 9-year “overnight success” story helped to jump-start the private spaceflight industry and is detailed in the NY Times bestselling book, How to Make a Space Ship, by Julian Guthrie.

Centenial Celebration

Erik is currently focused on leveraging the 100th anniversary of his famous Grandfathers (Charles A. Lindbergh) 1927 New York to Paris flight to create the most audacious incentive prize in history. Programs are underway with STEM Education, Innovation Forums, Events and Travel opportunities that will lead to a crescendo at the 2027 Paris Airshow with the announcement of the Prize. The goal is to 10X support for the XPRIZE Foundation and create the greatest single positive change event on the planet – EVER!

Electic Aircraft

In 2011 Erik awarded the Lindbergh Prize for Quietest Aircraft at the NASA Green Flight Challenge and inspired by the potential for aviation, created Powering Imagination to help accelerate the development of the electric aircraft industry and inspire the next generation of innovators.

Personal Air Taxis

After nearly a decade working on this industry Erik and his partners have started a new company called VerdeGo Aero to build electric vertical take off and landing (eVTOL) Personal Air Taxi’s which will transform the way people move around the planet.

Overcoming Obstacles

Erik’s story is one of triumph over adversity. He won the Washington state gymnastics championship at age 11 and excelled in water-skiing, and alpine and telemark ski racing during his teens. After climbing and skiing Mount Rainier at age 21, he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and by age 30 was completely disabled. Total knee replacements and a breakthrough biotechnology drug gave him a second chance at living a physically active life. Inspired by nature, he is an expert mountain biker and backcountry skier and has been creating unique furniture and sculpture designs for over 25 years.

Affiliations

Committed to a life of service to future generations, Erik is a passionate public speaker and serves as Chairman of the board for the Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation, as a Trustee of the XPRIZE Foundation, and served as a founding director of the Aviation High School in Seattle which is now ranked the #1 school in the state.

Erik Lindbergh Speaking Topics

Decarbonizing Aviation Using Incentive Prizes

Aviation is the hardest industry to transform to zero carbon emissions because it is mass constrained and requires high energy. The industry needs to move to sustainability or face increasing constraints. What is the best way to accelerate and scale solutions for the barriers to sustainable aviation? Prizes. Prizes helped develop the aviation industry and helped create the private spaceflight industry. The Lindbergh Foundation has partnered with the XPRIZE Foundation, The National Business Aviation Association and The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation to create the Forever Flight Alliance. Dubbed "Speed dating for radical solutionists" The alliance is activating a brain trust to identify and quantify the barriers to sustainable aviation and then design incentive prizes to accelerate the solutions to those stuck areas.

Escape From Gravity - Leveraging Innovation in Aerospace and Beyond

Erik Lindbergh, grandson of pioneering aviator Charles Lindbergh, has been on lifelong quest to Escape From Gravity. His interests have ranged from aviation to sports, a second chance at life, and dreams of spaceflight and beyond.

Prize Driven Innovation

Erik Lindbergh shares his story and makes the case for timely prize philanthropy as a key driver of innovation in aviation, spaceflight, and for many areas of human endeavor.

Overcoming Obstacles

Erik’s story is one of triumph over adversity. He won the Washington state gymnastics championship all-around at age 11 and excelled in water-skiing, and alpine and telemark ski racing during his teens. After climbing and skiing Mount Rainier at age 21, he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and by age 30 was completely disabled. Total knee replacements and a breakthrough biotechnology drug gave him a second chance at living a physically active life. After years of patient persistence Erik has rebuilt his physical fitness and is now a bonafide member of the OGR's (#OldGuysRockin) as an expert mountain biker and backcountry skier.