Participated · Series C · Jul 2022

Dedrone offers a multi-sensor fusion C-UAS platform — cloud-based or on-prem/air-gapped — that uses AI/ML detection, a fusion tracker, sensors, mitigation capabilities and advanced analytics to detect, identify, locate and analyze drone threats. The company detects nearly 300 drone types across more than 65 manufacturers and recently launched DedroneRapidResponse, a mobile solution deployable in under 30 minutes to protect a five-kilometer radius. Customers span 36 countries, including four G-7 governments, nine U.S. federal agencies (including the Department of Defense), over 75 critical infrastructure sites, 20+ airports and 50 correctional facilities. Dedrone said commercial demand accelerated in 2022 and it is on track to double its revenue projections for the year. The company plans to triple U.S. hiring and build a focused engineering team in California as it grows its global team and expands its multi-sensor fusion airspace security solution. Established in 2014, Dedrone maintains offices in San Francisco, the Washington, D.C.-area, Columbus, Ohio, London and Germany. Dedrone builds counter-drone systems that detect, identify, locate and mitigate unauthorized drones by fusing data from multiple sensors and applying AI/ML. Its solution can be hosted on-premise or delivered via Dedrone’s Airspace Security-as-a-Service (ASaaS) and includes analytics and mitigation functionality. The company says it has sold over 1,000 sensors and expanded detection to more than 200 different drone types while operating across 33 countries. Dedrone’s customers include governments of four G-7 nations, nine U.S. federal agencies including the Department of Defense, 65+ critical infrastructure sites, 20 airports, 50 correctional facilities and 10 Fortune 500 companies. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in San Francisco with operations in the Washington, D.C.-area, Columbus, London and Germany, Dedrone positions itself as the market leader in smart airspace security. The company recently completed a $30.5 million Series C after a year of strong growth. Dedrone is described as the global market and technology leader in airspace security, protecting organizations from malicious drones. Its platform is a complete counter-drone solution that detects, classifies, and helps mitigate drone threats. The system combines radio sensors, specialized cameras, and radar whose data are processed by the company's DroneTracker software. Following the new funding, Dedrone plans to accelerate development of its platform and propel global expansion. The company secured $12.1m in a funding round and is backed by investors including TempoCap, Felicis Ventures, Menlo Ventures, and John Chambers. Dedrone is a San Francisco-based company that builds drone-detection and counter-drone systems combining sensors, cameras, and RF scanners. Its product, launched about a year before the article, has been installed at over 200 sites including data centers, sports stadiums, and the homes of high-net-worth individuals and political figures. The company often works with physical security firms and government agencies to monitor airspace at events and facilities. Dedrone raised $15 million in a Series B and will primarily use the funding to bring its technology to more businesses and government offices, with a particular focus on data centers. CEO Jorg Lamprecht said the company will also continue research and development in drone security. The firm emphasizes the ability to precisely locate drone operators to enable countermeasures while avoiding escalation where possible. Dedrone develops hardware and software to detect and locate unwanted drones and alert people on the ground or in manned aircraft. Its systems are used by law enforcement, private security firms, property owners and corporations monitoring large venues and infrastructure such as airports and data centers. The company has surpassed 200 customers worldwide, including at least 30 in North America, and has been deployed at venues like Citi Field to keep unauthorized flying cameras away from events. Dedrone positions itself as neutral on countermeasures, allowing customers to decide how to respond within legal constraints. CEO and founder Jörg Lamprecht says regulatory changes benefit the business because laws need enforcement, which drives demand for monitoring solutions.

Participated · Series D · Sep 2016

Heliatek develops and manufactures organic photovoltaic solar films sold as HeliaFilm®. The company is expanding manufacturing capacity with a new roll-to-roll facility on its Dresden site to add one million m² p.a. when fully ramped up. Management plans to install the facility over the next 18 months while continuing a worldwide rollout of HeliaFilm® products to the building-material and automotive industries. The funding announced includes equity, a loan and subsidies that will finance the capacity expansion. Heliatek expects the expansion to create more than 50 new high‑tech jobs in Saxony. The company is led by CEO Thibaud Le Séguillon. Heliatek develops organic solar films produced via a roll-to-roll manufacturing process. The company is supplying prototypes and pilot units to building and construction material companies, automotive manufacturers and their suppliers. It focuses on commercializing flexible, lightweight solar-film products for integration into various surfaces. Heliatek completed an €18m Series C and has raised €46m in total to date. The company intends to use the new funds to expand its sales efforts. Heliatek was founded in 2006 and is led by CEO Thibaud Le Séguillon and Dr. Martin Pfeiffer. Heliatek GmbH, based in Dresden, Germany, develops organic solar cells incorporating proprietary tandem technology from so-called "small molecules," organic dyes synthesized from hydrocarbons. Formed in 2006 as a spin-off from the Universities of Dresden and Ulm, the company focuses on efficient, flexible and very lightweight PV modules on a film substrate. The recent financing will be used to build a production facility in Dresden to manufacture those film-based PV modules. The company completed a $27M (€18M) second round of financing led by Wellington Partners with participation from Bosch, RWE Innogy Ventures, BASF Venture Capital, the High-Tech‑Gründerfonds, eCAPITAL entrepreneurial Partners AG, Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen Startup GmbH & Co. KG and GP Bullhound Sidecar. Prior to this round, Heliatek received seed investments of €500,000 from the High-Tech‑Gründerfonds and €100,000 from Dr. h.c. Harald Eggers. The funding is intended to scale manufacturing capacity for its organic PV modules.