Wingtra, founded in 2016 as an ETH spin-off, focuses on optimization as well as research and development around its WingtraOne VTOL fixed-wing survey and mapping drone. The drone’s VTOL capabilities enable it to take off and land like a multicopter but cover wide areas like a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). This allows WingtraOne to carry high-resolution cameras that achieve the highest resolution and accuracy in the professional drone market. Over the past two years, Wingtra has experienced rapid growth. Since 2017, the number of employees has more than doubled, from 30 to more than 70. The ETH spin-off has partnered with more than 50 of the biggest survey equipment dealers worldwide and formed a strong user base: the WingtraOne is currently sold in more than 40 countries. Now, the Zurich-based startup announced the recent closing of a Series A round of $10 million. Among the investors are Credit Suisse Entrepreneur Capital, investiere, private investors as well as existing investors such as the Zürcher Kantonalbank. «With the funds raised, we’ll scale up our operations, expand our sales globally and improve our outstanding product to advance the aerial survey and mapping industry», says Elias Kleimann, co-founder and CFO of Wingtra. «We see high-growth potential with Wingtra due to multiple impressive technological advancements across a range of dimensions, setting it apart from its competitors. The attractive and fast-growing market of VTOL drones, together with the company’s recent key hires, will provide an outstanding setting for the company’s future growth», says Didier Denat, Chairman of Credit Suisse Entrepreneur Capital and Head of Corporate & Investment Banking at Credit Suisse in Switzerland. (Press Release/ SOK) (Picture: ZVG)