Belgium-based drone-traffic management software provider Unifly has closed a series B round featuring air traffic control manager Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS) and drone operator Terra Drone at €17m ($19.2m).
Both corporates took part in the round’s $16.6m first close in January 2019, investing alongside inter-university venture capital fund Qbic Fund and the Flemish government-owned PMV. Belgium’s Federal Holding and Investment Company was identified as the latest investor.
Unifly has developed software that is used to track unmanned aerial vehicles, enabling regulators to approve flights, manage traffic in their airspace and establish no-fly zones.
The technology allows drone pilots to request access to airspace, control their power consumption and view fly-zone specific regulations. It is also being utilised in a drone-tracking and electronic identification device called Blip.
Marc Kegelaers, Unifly’s CEO, said the proceeds will be used to grow its international presence. It has already secured contracts with air navigation services in Germany, Belgium, Denmark and Austria, in certain regions in the US, and in drone corridors in Japan and Malawi.
“This funding round will enable Unifly to continue building its world-leading features and to expand the product offering,” he added. “This now includes the Blip which acts as an electronic license plate for drones, combined with high-precision drone tracking.”
Qbic Fund and PMV had provided a total of $1.3m in seed funding for the company in 2015 before returning for a $5.3m round led by Terra Drone the following year.
Photo courtesy of Unifly NV.