Founders

Ivo Boscarol

Mr. Ivo Boscarol is a pilot, flight instructor and test pilot, 5 times national champion, pioneer of electric aviation and mostly known as the founder and co-owner of the Pipistrel Group companies, designing and producing the most advanced light aircraft in the world, with branches in Slovenia, Italy and China. Pipistrel aircraft won the World Champion title, accomplished several flights around the world and 16 world records.

As the first private aircraft producer in the Balkans area, he has been contributing to the aviation standards for Microlight class on the global scale since the early eighties.

Boscarol is a highly recognised entrepreneur in Slovenia. He received Readers’ Digest award for the “most trusted businessman” in Slovenia 9 years in a row. The University of Nova Gorica awarded him with golden order and the title of Doctor Honoris Causa for his outstanding scientific and professional achievements. The Manager Association awarded him a lifetime achievement award, the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce awarded him a recognition for exceptional economic and entrepreneurial achievements, and the “Spring Wind” award for promoting the entrepreneurial environment in Slovenia. The Finance newspaper awarded him an award for exceptional achievements in the economy, AmCham Slovenia awarded him the title of “Business Leader”, the Slovenian Post dedicated a commemorative stamp to him, and the Delo newspaper chose him as the Personality of the year.

His work and achievements are also recognized abroad. The Politico magazine listed him among Top 28 most influential people in the European Union, and Bloomberg Adria among the 50 most influential individuals in the region. The New Europe organization ranked him among the top 100 innovators in Europe. The Republic of Italy decorated him with the Order of the Italian Star, and the USA Kiddie Hawk Academy awarded him the title of “Living Legend of Aviation.” He was awarded with the highest FAI award for the contribution to aviation, and the Experimental Aircraft Association of the United States (EAA) awarded him the “August Raspet Award” for his outstanding contribution to the development of aviation.

Under his leadership, Pipistrel received numerous awards, recognitions and distinctions, such as the European Business Award for the most innovative company in the EU in 2010 and three consecutive victories in the NASA Challenge competitions, as well as the highest national civilian decoration, the “Golden Order” of the President of the Republic of Slovenia.

Boscarol dedicates a great part of his life to making the aviation affordable and environment friendly. For more than 30 years Pipistrel has been the producer of world’s most energy-efficient light aircraft and one of the pioneers of electric propulsion. Ivo as the aircraft concept designer and his team designed more than dozen aircraft and among them the world’s first fully electric 2-seat aircraft, the Taurus Electro in 2007. In 2011 they produced the Taurus G4, world’s first electric 4-seat aircraft, which then brought Pipistrel its third victory at the NASA Challenge.

In 2014 Pipistrel released the first serially produced electric trainer in the world, the Alpha Electro; in 2016 the company co-developed both the world’s first 4-seat hybrid propulsion aircraft and the first hydrogen fuel cells-powered aircraft.

With the world’s first ever type-certification of an electric, emission-free aircraft in 2020, Ivo Boscarol as owner of Pipistrel achieved the third great milestone in aviation. After the piston engine-powered aircraft was type-certified in USA for passenger air transport in 1927 and jet engine aircraft in UK in 1953, Ivo Boscarol opened the door for the commercial use of emission-free electric air transport by certifying the electric propulsion aircraft Velis Electro on 7 June 2020.

In 2022 Boscarol sold the major share of Pipistrel Group companies to USA corporation Textron, in which he continues his vision of emission-free aviation under his role as the President Emeritus of Pipistrel. With the largest individual donation in the history of Slovenia, 30 million euros for various large social projects for the public good, in 2022 he also became the biggest and world-famous philanthropist from the world of aviation.

To manage the assets from the sale of his stake in Pipistrel, he founded the family company Boscarol d.o.o. He invests directly or through the company in various high technologies, pharmaceuticals, the entertainment and sports industry, medicine, alternative food production, catering, winemaking, various financial and real estate investments, and defense programs, primarily in aerial surveillance and protection against drones.

He manages most of the companies of the Boscarol group directly as general manager or a co-manager. With his knowledge and experience, he helps manage startup companies in particular.

Taja Boscarol

Taja Boscarol was born in 1982. She attended high school in Ajdovščina and in 2006 she completed art study program at the Faculty of Education. She founded her own business for graphic and industrial design, arrangement and decoration. In 2012 she was employed at Pipistrel d.o.o. where she performed various tasks from designing and editing websites, design of promotional and printed materials for the company, to PR. With her knowledge and experience, she helps with the design of corporate visual identities, brand designs and websites of companies from the Boscarol group, as well as in public presentations of the companies’ work and activities.