German Drone Start-up, Wingcopter, Secures New Funding, Adds to Leadership Team
European drone technology company, Wingcopter, has received further funding from a new investor, Copenhagen-based Nordic Secondary Fund, as well as from existing shareholders and the European Investment Bank. The investors were compelled by Wingcopter's progress in obtaining type certification for commercial use of its delivery drones in the US, Brazil, and Japan, as well as its business expansion into the field of drone-based surveying of critical infrastructure using laser scanners (LiDAR).
Founded in 2017 by Tom Plümmer, Jonathan Hesselbarth, and Ansgar Kadura, the Hesse-based start-up manufactures, sells and operates electric uncrewed aircraft systems for logistics and aerial data collection. Wingcopter has grown into a leading European technology company for unmanned systems and services, employing approximately 150 people.
For the upcoming growth phase, the company is bringing in additional executives with extensive experience to support the transition to mass production of the Wingcopter 198, its global commercialization, and capitalize on opportunities in logistics and aerial data collection. Bernhard Klumpp, an experienced automotive industry manager, has joined Wingcopter as Co-CEO and Chief Product Officer, contributing his decades of general management and production scaling experience from Continental. He joins Tom Plümmer (Co-CEO) and Jonathan Hesselbarth (CTO) as Managing Directors. Tobias Jordan joins as Chief Financial Officer to develop Wingcopter’s strategic finance function.
Tom Plümmer, Co-Founder and Co-CEO at Wingcopter, stated: “Europe requires technology champions now more than ever. With the new financing and strengthening of our leadership team, we are confident about the future and believe we have the potential to become such a champion and realize this potential together. Bernhard and Tobias bring invaluable knowledge and experience in scaling companies – Bernhard in the industrial sector and Tobias in finance. Having established a solid foundation over the past few years, we are poised to advance significantly.”
Peter Sandberg, Founding Partner and Managing Director at Nordic Secondary Fund, comments: “By facilitating sustainable instant deliveries and efficient inspections of critical infrastructure through aerial laser scanning, Wingcopter is addressing two rapidly growing markets with the same platform. Developing high-tech drone technology in Europe to address global challenges demonstrates technical proficiency and contributes significantly to a robust and sustainable European future.”
In 2023, Wingcopter secured €40 million in funding to advance and expand its fleet of cargo drones, aimed at improving accessibility and sustainability in logistics. The company has participated in several humanitarian initiatives, focused on delivering essential supplies, such as medicine, to the most inaccessible regions globally.
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