Fotokite, a Swiss and US-based scale-up specializing in fully autonomous tethered UAVs for firefighting and public safety teams, has announced the closure of its Series B financing round, securing around CHF 10 million ($11 million). This investment will accelerate the company's growth, enhance its R&D, and expand its global operations.
The funding round was led by Carbyne Equity Partners, a private equity firm focusing on growing European businesses, with contributions from existing investors such as Swisscanto Private Equity Growth I, and Credit Suisse Entrepreneur Capital Ltd.
"Fotokite’s differentiating technology and accomplished management team perfectly align with our investment requirements. Hence, we are delighted to accompany the international commercialization and continuous technological development of Fotokite’s products in order to provide first responders with equipment that is worthy of their critical missions," stated Markus Petersen, Managing Partner at Carbyne Equity Partners.
This new funding reinforces Fotokite's leading position in providing actively-tethered drone technology for emergency response teams. The company's solutions are known for their effectiveness and reliability in critical scenarios, offering advanced aerial capabilities that enhance situational awareness, streamline search and rescue operations, and save lives.
The investment will enable Fotokite to expand its public safety customer base, address new market opportunities, develop additional product features, and scale up operations. Fotokite’s expansion has notably increased its global footprint, with operations now extending across six continents.
"We are thrilled to announce the successful completion of our latest funding round, which marks a significant milestone for our company," said Bart Slager, CEO of Fotokite. "This investment underscores the confidence in our vision and the value of our autonomous solutions for first responders. With our expanded resources and global reach, we are poised to make an even greater impact in helping emergency response teams save lives and protect communities around the world."