3DR, the US-based developer of consumer drones and an attendant drone software platform, expanded its series C round to $64m yesterday after securing funding from investors including flash storage company SanDisk.
3DR, also known as 3D Robotics, raised $50m in the first tranche of the round, led by Qualcomm Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of mobile technology producer Qualcomm, in February this year.
The additional funding was led by growth equity firm WestSummit Capital and featured US, Europe and Asia-based investors including SanDisk Ventures, SanDisk’s corporate venturing subsidiary, and Atlantic Bridge Ventures.
The first tranche included backing from O’Reilly AlphaTech Ventures (OATV), the corporate venturing unit for media company O’Reilly, Foundry Group, True Ventures, Mayfield Fund and Shea Ventures.
Founded in 2009, 3DR claims to be the largest consumer drone company in the US, manufacturing unmanned aerial vehicles and developing an open drone software platform. It plans to now expand its activities into other markets.
Chris Anderson, chief executive of 3DR, said: “3DR’s roots are in a worldwide, open developer community, so creating an equally expansive global organisation is a key part of company strategy.
“China is emerging as a world leader in drone technology and production, and many of the innovative companies there are already using 3DR platforms. We see tremendous opportunity to work with investors and experts in these markets to extend that lead and work more closely with innovative young companies.”
3DR has now raised approximately $99m since it was founded. OATV was an investor in both its 2012 series A round, which raised $5m, and a subsequent $30m round in 2013.