Wingcopter develops vertical take-off-and-landing delivery drones and proprietary software for delivering medicine and other goods to hard-to-reach areas, with active deployments (for example, a UNICEF program in Malawi). The company plans to expand into a logistics and delivery-services business anchored by fleets of its drones while continuing to sell hardware to organizations. It is developing a hydrogen-powered model intended to extend range roughly fivefold compared with its battery models. Wingcopter currently integrates its own software with third-party ERP systems like SAP but plans to build a logistics backend that is more platform-agnostic. The company is awaiting regulatory clearance to start pilots and services in Europe and is targeting further expansion across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Unit costs remain relatively high for many potential customers (deposit to order a drone is noted as upwards of €1,000), which is one reason the company plans to lease fleets and offer services. Wingcopter develops eVTOL and fixed-wing unmanned aircraft systems, centered on its patented tilt-rotor Wingcopter 198 that can take off and land vertically while flying long distances. The company focuses on optimizing medical supply chains and last-mile logistics for packages, tools, spare parts, food, and groceries. Its technology is designed to operate in heavy rain and wind, enabled by proprietary hardware and software algorithms. Wingcopter runs a global Authorized Partnership Program (WAPP) to onboard operators, resellers, and lessors to expand commercial and humanitarian deployments. The company employs a roughly 120-strong team and was named a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum in 2020. Wingcopter is actively expanding its partner network, with a strategic emphasis on growing operations in Japan. Wingcopter, founded in 2017, develops tilt-rotor cargo delivery drones that combine vertical take-off and landing with fixed-wing efficiency. Its flagship Wingcopter 178 heavy-lift model can fly up to 75 miles, reach speeds up to 100 mph, and carry payloads of around 13 lbs using a proprietary patented tilt-rotor mechanism. The company operates both as an OEM selling hardware and as a drone-delivery-as-a-service provider; its service business at one point made up more than half of revenue. Wingcopter has commercial operations in multiple markets including Vanuatu (with UNICEF), Tanzania, and Ireland, where it completed a BVLOS insulin delivery. It works closely with regulators on BVLOS and is participating in FAA certification efforts. The company plans U.S. expansion with an American facility for flight testing and eventual U.S.-based production, and it is developing a new drone model and running training programs with UNICEF's African Drone and Data Academy. Wingcopter is a Darmstadt, Germany-based manufacturer of unmanned eVTOL aircraft that develops and sells transport drones for humanitarian and civil applications. The company focuses on delivery use cases including medical goods as well as parcels and food. Led by CEO Tom Plümmer, Wingcopter aims to improve lives worldwide through commercial and humanitarian drone delivery services. It received a second investment from Corecam Capital Partners, a Singapore multi-family office, though the amount and instrument were not disclosed. Corecam had previously participated in Wingcopter's December 2019 seed round, which involved several million euros. The company plans to use the new funds to expand its team from about 45 to roughly 70 employees in the coming months. Wingcopter is a Darmstadt, Germany–based startup that develops and produces autonomously flying delivery drones for social and civilian applications. Its aircraft use a patented tilt-rotor mechanism: all four rotors swivel 90 degrees to enable vertical takeoff and landing in small spaces and convert the vehicle into an airplane. The transition yields ranges of up to 75 miles (120 km) and top speeds of about 150 miles (240 km) per hour. The company serves clients in 10 countries and is focusing on delivery of medical goods, e-commerce parcels and food. Wingcopter was co-founded by Tom Plümmer (CEO), Jonathan Hesselbarth (CTO) and Ansgar Kadura (COO). It recently secured a seven-digit financing round to hire specialists, accelerate development of the next Wingcopter generation and expand its global maintenance and sales network.

Total raised

$66M

Funding rounds

5

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

May 2023