Wingcopter Secures $42M to Deploy More Than 12,000 Drones in Africa

In order to extend its drone delivery services abroad and increase manufacturing of the Wingcopter 198, the most effective eVTOL delivery drone in the world, Wingcopter, a German manufacturer and service provider, has raised $42 million.

German investors Salvia and XAI technologies joined the board as new shareholders, as well as the German retailer REWE Group. They were joined by former funders Xplorer Capital in Silicon Valley, German firm Futury Capital, and Japanese conglomerate ITOCHU.

The Wingcopter production plant in Germany is built to produce thousands of Wingcopter drones annually. Soon, production operations will begin to be partially automated, greatly accelerating the production process.

At Wingcopter, we develop effective and environmentally friendly drone solutions to save and enhance lives. Tom Plümmer, co-founder and CEO of Wingcopter, said: “To do this, we are hiring passionate pioneers with whom we develop what has never been done before. “The new capital, along with expanding revenues, puts us in a fantastic position to introduce our customers throughout the world to our market-leading drone delivery solution to optimize supply chains.”

The company’s total equity raising so far has tripled to more than $60 million with the addition of the new funding as part of a Series A extension round. The capital infusion will be used by Wingcopter to speed up the company’s R&D efforts for new product features and to hire 80 additional personnel across all divisions in the upcoming months.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently approved the Airworthiness Criteria for the Wingcopter 198, marking an important step in the company’s flagship aircraft’s U.S. Type Certification Process.

The REWE Group is a perfect addition to Wingcopter’s investor base and a definite indication that the company’s future will go beyond providing medical drone delivery services. REWE Group is one of Germany’s major supermarket retailers and has 12,000 locations across Europe. Salvia, a business recognized for its early investment in German biotech leader BioNTech, has a focus on innovative innovations and will actively support Wingcopter’s growth path with its extensive company-building skills.

The team at XAI technologies, which was founded by machine vision pioneer Enis Ersü, will offer value because of their extensive training and expertise in sensor technology and industrial automation. One of Japan’s leading trading corporations and a member of the Fortune Global 500 index, ITOCHU will provide fresh access to the dynamic Japanese market.

“REWE Group is one of the most innovative firms in German retail,” adds Christoph Eltze, Executive Board member for Digital, Customer, Analytics, and IT at REWE Group. For many years, especially in the area of new trends, we have depended on solid ties with innovative leaders. We have such a new partner in Wingcopter.

The use of autonomous cargo drones for on-demand, quick, and environmentally friendly deliveries has exploded in recent years as more and more businesses and governments recognize its potential. The recent collaboration agreement between Wingcopter and Continental Drones, which plans to deploy 12,000 Wingcopter drones over the next years to distribute desperately needed commodities throughout sub-Saharan Africa by creating a new layer of aerial infrastructure, serves as the ideal illustration of this.

Other Authorized Partners, who also become investors in Wingcopter in addition to signing the partnership agreements, include ITOCHU in Japan and Synerjet in Latin America. Both of these companies serve as effective local operators or distributors in their respective regions.

“Wingcopter has the potential to lead the drone delivery industry thanks to its innovative technology and highly driven staff. Innovative businesses like Wingcopter are needed to steer an industry like logistics toward a sustainable, more effective future in the face of global issues like climate change. As an investor and sparring partner going forward, we are happy to support this success story, adds Helmut Jeggle, founder and managing partner of Salvia.

As part of its mission to save and enhance the lives of people all over the world, Wingcopter will expand its network operations in Malawi, where it has been operating since 2019, with new Wingcopter 198 drones and more hubs. These drones will transport different medical goods, such as emergency medications and COVID vaccines, to outlying health centers.

Enis Ersü, managing owner of XAI technologies and former CEO of ISRA VISION, says, “We are thrilled to join the Wingcopter team on their approach to the next growth milestones as a leader in drone delivery logistics. Our team at XAI Technologies, which serves as both an investor and a technology partner, is eager to develop new business opportunities by fusing cutting-edge essential technologies and operational excellence with the management.