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High Tech Series B Founded 2014

Fotokite

Fotokite develops actively tethered unmanned aerial systems (UAS) designed specifically for first responders, providing mission-critical situational awareness from elevated perspectives without requiring piloting. The company's flagship product, Fotokite Sigma, launches, flies, and lands with the single push of a button and is authorized by aviation authorities as a safer alternative to free-flying public safety…

📍 Zurich, Switzerland · Drones,

Funding snapshot

Last roundSeries B
Amount$11M
Date11 April 2024
Total raised$37M
Team size64

About

Fotokite develops actively tethered unmanned aerial systems (UAS) designed specifically for first responders, providing mission-critical situational awareness from elevated perspectives without requiring piloting. The company's flagship product, Fotokite Sigma, launches, flies, and lands with the single push of a button and is authorized by aviation authorities as a safer alternative to free-flying public safety drones. The system is exempt from Part 107 and COA regulations in the United States. Fotokite Sigma features a 2.8-pound carbon fiber frame, IP55 rugged rating, 24-plus hour flight time powered by the vehicle's electrical system, and a maximum altitude of 150 feet (45 meters). The drone is equipped with an advanced three-axis gimbal camera system featuring a radiometric thermal camera, a wide-angle color camera, and a zoom color camera with 0.5x to 16x hybrid optical and digital zoom, providing simultaneous video streams. Fotokite Live, the native operating software, displays mission-critical situational awareness on a rugged tablet. The system streams live color and thermal video to up to 50 remote viewers at 1080p resolution via Wi-Fi or mobile networks, with secure link sharing and system telemetry including flight altitude, position, and heading. Fotokite is available in two configurations: a Transport Case for interchangeable vehicle use and a Rooftop Box for hands-free deployment integrated into SUVs and heavy apparatus. The system integrates with Axon Evidence.com and Axon Respond, and offers an API for custom integrations. Fotokite is deployed by fire departments and law enforcement agencies worldwide including Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Chicago, Milan, and Zurich.

Business model

GovTech > Public Service Delivery > Public Safety Management > First Responders > Drones,

Drones > Public Safety Drones > First Responders

Team background

College Wise > Cornell University, ETH Zurich

Institutional investors

Sony Innovation Fund Genius NY Credit Suisse Entrepreneur Capital Carbyne Equity Partners Swisscanto UBS MSA Safety Sony Qualcomm Ventures Europa Swiss ICT Investor Club Helvetica Capital Orkos Capital Robolution Capital Gentian Investments

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