EMMA Systems raises seed round from Plus VC

Doha, Qatar - Qatar-based EMMA Systems closed an undisclosed seed round led by Plus VC, joined by two angel investors. Multiple regional outlets reported the financing this week, noting the company’s focus on unifying real-time operational data for airports and airlines. 

What EMMA builds

Founded in 2020 by Wisam Costandi and Mohammad Hourani, EMMA offers an AI-driven SaaS platform that integrates Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM), Turnaround Management Systems (TMS), Airport Operational Management Systems (AOMS), and a roadmap toward Total Airport Management (TAM). The platform aims to improve predictability, resource allocation, and situational awareness via a single operational dashboard for all aviation stakeholders. 

Traction and positioning

EMMA says it has deployments with airports and airlines across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, and has been shortlisted by industry players for performance and usability. Public materials emphasize compliance with EUROCONTROL A-CDM objectives and ease of integration with existing airport systems, positioning EMMA as a cloud-native alternative to legacy AODB-centric stacks. 

Why this matters: market backdrop

Airports are investing heavily to meet rising demand and modernize operations; creating a receptive environment for data platforms that can squeeze more capacity from existing infrastructure:

• U.S. airports: ACI-NA estimates $173.9B in infrastructure needs over the next five years (up from $151B in the prior study).
• Asia-Pacific & Middle East: ACI projects ~$240B in airport investments from 2025–2035 for modernization and new builds.
• Recent headline projects—from Spain’s multiyear upgrade plan to major terminal expansions in the U.S.—underscore the scale and urgency of capacity and efficiency upgrades that software can help enable. 

Within this context, platforms that unify operational data and support A-CDM/TAM are increasingly seen as levers to reduce delays, improve turnaround times, and support sustainability objectives without immediate greenfield expansion. Bain’s recent analyses also point to tangible efficiency gains when AI is embedded into operations, strengthening the case for aviation-specific AI deployments. 

What’s next

EMMA plans to channel the new capital into its AI stack and product portfolio, especially TAM; while accelerating go-to-market across priority regions. Expect further integrations with airport stakeholders, deeper decision support around irregular operations, and expanded analytics aimed at reducing delays, emissions, and costs.