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Wingtra founders Basil Weibel, Maximilian Boosfeld and Elias Kleimann
“The world’s resources are very limited and there is a lot of waste,” says Zurich-based wing tigeris the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones. “We are on a mission to manage the world’s assets more sustainably and efficiently.”
This mission expands following today’s announcement that Wingtra has raised $22 million in new investment to accelerate the company’s growth. The Series B round, which closed six years after he launched the business in 2017, is a vote of confidence in the company’s breakthrough technology.
Wingtra’s VTOL technology enables the company’s drones to operate in the most challenging locations, including confined spaces. Drones also incorporate powerful imaging technology, allowing users to survey beneath the ground in incredible detail. The company has also developed software that can transform the collected data into his 2D and 3D maps, working with clients in industries such as construction, engineering, mining and transportation.
To provide some context, Boosfeld says the most advanced satellite cameras can now produce images in which each pixel occupies about 3,250 centimeters. In contrast, Wingtra’s technology provides images with 1-2 centimeters per pixel. “You see coins falling on the football pitch,” he explains.
The applications of such technology are widespread and constantly evolving. For example, in the United States, transportation authorities can use Wingtra’s drones to survey interstates and other highways and monitor network wear and tear to maintain and keep networks open. . Meanwhile, the Army flies drones over U.S. levees and levees to check for potential problems and violations.
Elsewhere, construction companies are using the technology to map construction sites in greater detail than ever before, allowing them to plan and manage projects more accurately. Mining companies and environmental groups are using drones to monitor mining and land use. Private sector clients range from mining giant Rio Tinto to building materials specialist CEMEX.
Working with such clients, Wingtra’s drones now make over 100,000 flights each year, covering 18 million acres of land and sea to date, or 13.6 million pitches.
Much of this work has traditionally been done manually, requiring organizations to send teams of investigators to remote and inaccessible locations, Boosfeld said. “Compared to manual approaches, he can reduce the time required for investigation by more than 90%,” he says. “Users can get the data they need faster and more accurately, so they can make better decisions.”
Wingra helps customers save more than just time. “Our vision is to create a world where drones will help manage much of our planet more sustainably and efficiently,” explains Boosfeld. Equipped with more detailed photos and models, users can more effectively focus their efforts and commit only the resources that are actually needed for the project. Additionally, imaging can be used to maintain corporate integrity when using land and other assets.
The business grew rapidly from its inception. Wingtra began as a thesis of Boosfeld and co-founders Basil Weibel, Elias Kleimann, and Sebastian Verling. These three have met at ETH Zurich, Europe’s leading university for robotics technology. Today, it employs about 200 people and its drones are used in 96 countries around the world. Sales increased with the launch of the second-generation product in the summer of 2021, which offers additional features and improvements.
The company’s Series B round should help it capitalize on this early success. “This is still an early market, so we continue to develop new use cases and products,” he says. The business is planning massive expansion not only in the US, but also in other markets around the world. We are also making a series of appointments to strengthen our leadership team in areas such as operations, sales, product development and human resources.
The $22 million in funding came from investors including DiamondStream Partners, EquityPitcher Ventures, Verve Ventures, Ace & Company, European Innovation Council Fund, ACE & Company, and a number of individual business angels and entrepreneurs.
“Expanding our leadership in the $83 billion mapping segment of the aviation information market globally through the ease of use of our products, reliable engineering and our global network of value-added resellers and service providers. ,” says DiamondStream Partners. Directed by Dean Donovan. “As Wingtra continues to expand, we look forward to supporting the company in the United States and Latin America, which are increasingly important regions.”