Zurich-based Voliro, a company specialised in aerial mobile robotics, announced on Thursday that it has secured $12M (approximately €10.8M) in Series A funding led by Cherry Ventures.
Other existing business angels, family offices, and a conventional debt facility, also participated in the round.
This new funding brings Voliro’s total capital raised to $22M (approximately €20M).
With this new funding, the Swiss company aims to expand its product offerings, enter new markets, and further its mission to make industrial inspection, maintenance, and repair work at height safer and more cost-effective.
“We’ve been able to save our customers significant time and money by using Voliro’s technology,” says Danny Landry, General Manager and Drone SME at Acuren.
“Their drones allow us to perform inspections much faster than traditional methods that require scaffolding, all while reducing our safety exposure,” Landry.
What does Voliro solve?
Industrial work at height is inherently risky, costly, and time-consuming.
Traditional methods often involve building scaffolds, using rope access, and deploying large workforces, exposing workers to significant dangers.
“Our mission is to eliminate the need for people to be exposed to risk for any work at height,” says Timo Müller, COO and co-founder of Voliro.
“With our advanced flying robots, we’re not only making these operations safer but also more efficient and cost-effective. This new funding will enable us to expand our product offerings and bring our technology to more industries globally,” adds Müller.
Founded in 2019 by Timo Müller and Dr. Marius Fehr, Voliro develops aerial mobile robotics, specialising in advanced flying robots that perform contact-based inspections and maintenance tasks at height.
The company launched its first product in November 2022, a drone equipped with a unique tiltable rotor system that allows it to interact with surfaces at any angle.
The company’s aerial robots provide a safer and more efficient solution by performing these tasks remotely, significantly reducing the need for human exposure to hazardous conditions while also cutting down on costs and time.
Currently, several industry players, including Chevron, Holcim, and Acuren use Voliro’s technology to perform critical inspections and maintenance on industrial assets such as flare stacks, wind turbines, and other hard-to-reach infrastructure.
The drones are capable of conducting non-destructive testing (NDT) and other contact-based inspections with unmatched precision, claims the company.
Voliro operates on a B2B subscription model, offering its technology as a comprehensive package that includes hardware, software, continuous updates, training, support, spare parts, and crash insurance.
“The recurring revenue from our subscription model allows us to continually invest in R&D and deliver high-quality solutions to our customers,” says Florian Gutzwiller, CEO of Voliro.
“We’re committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in aerial robotics, and this funding round is a testament to the confidence our investors have in our vision,” adds Gutzwiller.
The investor
Based out of Berlin, Cherry Ventures is an early-stage venture firm supporting founders who are poised to solve the most critical issues in society, the environment, and business.
“Voliro is setting a new standard in industrial inspections with its innovative aerial robotics technology, which addresses critical safety and efficiency challenges across multiple industries,” says Christian Meermann, Partner at Cherry Ventures. “We are excited to support Voliro as they scale their impact globally, bringing a safer and more efficient approach to work at height.”
