Drone start-up Wingcopter wins new investor

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Wingcopter, the leading European drone technology company, has successfully raised additional funding from several investors, including the Nordic Secondary Fund from Copenhagen.

This decision reflects the growing interest in Wingcopter’s innovative work focused on the development and deployment of delivery drones. Remarkable progress in obtaining type certification for widespread commercial use in key markets such as the US, Brazil, and Japan has strengthened investor confidence in the company’s future market viability. Wingcopter has also expanded its strategic focus by entering the field of drone-based critical infrastructure surveying, using cutting-edge laser scanning (LiDAR) technology.

From start-up to one of the leading technology companies for unmanned systems

Founded in 2017 by Tom Plümmer, Jonathan Hesselbarth, and Ansgar Kadura, Wingcopter has since developed into one of the leading technology companies for unmanned systems and services in Europe. To embark on its next phase of growth, the company has hired seasoned executives with extensive industry experience. With their support, Wingcopter intends to accelerate the transition to mass production of its flagship product, the Wingcopter 198, and leverage global commercialization opportunities in both logistics and the new business area of ​​drone-based data collection.

Dr. Bernhard Klumpp, an experienced manager from the automotive industry, has been hired as Co-CEO and Chief Product Officer of the same company. Dr. Klumpp brings decades of experience in corporate management and production scaling from his various positions at Continental. Effective immediately, he will serve as Wingcopter’s third Managing Director, alongside Tom Plümmer, who also serves as Co-CEO, and Jonathan Hesselbarth, CTO.

Tobias Jordan will lead the strategic development of Wingcopter’s financial aspects as Chief Financial Officer. Jordan has an impressive career in technology investment banking at Credit Suisse and also served as CFO, driving the growth of the electric mobility startup Dance.

Tom Plümmer, co-founder and co-CEO of Wingcopter, expressed optimism about the new funding and the leadership expansion, emphasizing: “Europe needs its own technology champions more than ever. With this new funding and the strengthening of our leadership team, we look to the future with confidence. We firmly believe we have the potential to become such a champion and want to fully realize this together. Both Bernhard and Tobias bring invaluable knowledge and experience in scaling companies – Bernhard in the industrial environment and Tobias in the financial sector. After laying a solid foundation over the past few years, we will now literally ascend to new heights from this foundation.”

Peter Sandberg, founding partner and managing director of Nordic Secondary Fund, also commented on the collaboration with Wingcopter: “We are excited to partner with Wingcopter as we share the team’s vision of driving meaningful change. Through sustainable, immediate delivery and the efficient inspection of critical infrastructure using drone-based laser scanning, Wingcopter serves two fast-growing markets with the same versatile technology platform. Developing high-tech drones in Europe to address complex challenges for global customers not only demonstrates technical excellence but also makes an important contribution to a stronger and more sustainable future for Europe.”

Possible applications of Wingcopter drones

The significance and benefits of potential applications for Wingcopter drones are clear. In the field of logistics, these drones can make deliveries more efficient by targeting remote locations and hard-to-reach areas, potentially leading to faster response times in emergencies or healthcare situations. At a time when demand for rapid delivery services is increasing, Wingcopter’s innovative potential to make a significant contribution to future logistics becomes apparent. Drones also play a crucial role in surveying critical infrastructure. By using LiDAR technology, they can provide precise data on construction projects, roads, and bridges, thus helping to monitor and maintain infrastructure more effectively.

Wingcopter’s commitment

Wingcopter’s commitment to logistics and data collection will not only increase efficiency in these sectors in the future, but also contribute to increasing the safety and sustainability of services and infrastructure. Wingcopter’s technology has the potential to not only revolutionize services but also contribute to the sourcing strategies of companies striving for sustainable and efficient solutions.

The approval processes in regulated markets such as the US, Brazil, and Japan are demanding, but they also ensure that high safety and quality standards are maintained. This is an essential part of Wingcopter’s strategy to provide customers worldwide with confidence in its products and services.

In summary, Wingcopter’s current development demonstrates that the company is not only developing technologically advanced solutions, but also has the potential to pave the way for the use of drone technologies in various economic sectors. The increased efforts to raise capital and recruit experienced executives are strategic steps to further advance this vision and establish Wingcopter as a significant force in the European design of future drone technology. With the right direction and the necessary resources in place, Wingcopter is well positioned to meet the challenges and opportunities in the drone technology landscape.

About Wingcopter

Wingcopter is a German drone technology company that develops, manufactures, sells, and operates fully electric unmanned aerial systems. The company specializes in improving the logistics of urgently needed goods and surveying solutions using high-quality sensor systems. The 150-person team is dedicated to improving and saving lives worldwide by developing certifiable drone technology for scalable, sustainable, and safe operations. Wingcopter is a Technology Pioneer and a World Economic Forum Global Innovator.

Thanks to its patented tilt-rotor mechanism and proprietary software algorithms for seamless transition between hover and forward flight, the Wingcopter 198 can take off and land vertically like a multicopter, but at the same time can fly long distances as efficiently, quickly and reliably as a fixed-wing aircraft, even in adverse weather conditions.

Wingcopter’s investors include Corecam Capital Partners, DRONE FUND, the European Investment Bank, Expa, Futury Capital, Hessen Kapital III, ITOCHU, Nordic Secondary Fund, the REWE Group, Salvia, SYNERJET, XAI Technologies and Xplorer Capital.