US-based automated commercial drone systems producer Kespry closed a $16m series B round yesterday that featured law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati.
Venture capital firm DCM Ventures led the round, while Lightspeed Venture Partners, H Barton Asset Management, Spectrum 28 and Rothernberg Ventures also participated.
Kespry disclosed the funding alongside a partnership with semiconductor manufacturer Nvidia to create a deep-learning module that will be able to identify and track specific objects, such as construction equipment.
Founded in 2013, Kespry has built drones that can be deployed at scale and which enable companies to collect, analyse and share aerial data. The technology allows clients to easily survey land and obtain information such as stockpile volumes.
The capital will help Kespry to drive recruitment in order to boost production. Kespry will also move into larger headquarters in Silicon Valley.
Lightspeed previously led Kespry’s $10m series A round in 2014. The company had earlier obtained an undisclosed amount of seed funding from Chmod Ventures.