German drone delivery pioneer Wingcopter continues to fly high, announcing that it has received an investment from DRONE FUND. DRONE FUND is a Japan-based venture capital firm specializing in startups related to drones and air mobility. The investment is made from DRONE FUND’s third JPY 10 billion / USD 90 million strong fund, called DRONE FUND III (officially DRONE FUND III Investment Limited Partnership), and is part of the Series B investment cycle from Wingcopter. This is DRONE FUND’s first investment in eVTOL drone technology as well as its first investment in a German company.

Wingcopter already has close ties with Japan. Last year, the company signed a partnership agreement with Japan’s largest airline ANA. Together with Wingcopter, ANA plans to build a drone delivery network to help improve the quality of life in rural areas across the country. Extensive testing has already taken place in recent months.

In addition, Wingcopter is about to announce the signing of a strategic partnership agreement with one of the largest sogo shosha (Japanese General Trading Companies) through Wingcopter’s Authorized Partner Program (WAPP). The company will act as a distributor and local technical support provider for Wingcopter’s latest Unmanned Aircraft (UAS) system, the Wingcopter 198, in Japan. WAPP is Wingcopter’s global network of strategic partners. It includes drone operators, dealers and agents trained and licensed to operate, promote and distribute the world’s first triple delivery drone, the Wingcopter 198.

Japan is an attractive market for Wingcopter as the country is very progressive in integrating drones into everyday life. Already in 2017, the Japanese government recognized the extraordinary potential of drones in many sectors of life and business and created a first national roadmap for commercial drones, the roadmap for the development of applications and drone technologies in Japan, and has continuously adapted it since.

“This investment comes as we step up our efforts in the Japanese market. We are confident that the DRONE FUND team will open doors, allowing us to offer drone delivery services to more customers in Japan and beyond. It also makes us very proud to be the only eVTOL drone company in their portfolio of around 50 investments. I think this investment is a testament to the fact that the Wingcopter 198 is truly at the forefront of delivery drone technology, ”says Tom Plümmer, CEO of Wingcopter.

Kotaro Chiba, founder and managing partner of DRONE FUND, comments: “We have seen the airline logistics network in Japan develop at an accelerated rate with the lifting of the ban on level 3 flights in 2021. Wingcopter is one of the providers of hardware, software and The world’s most reliable and advanced eVTOL AIs. the world, with successful experience in Japan. We are honored to be able to invest in such a great team. We look forward to working with the Wingcopter team to help develop drone logistics in Japan and abroad.

DRONE FUND joins existing investors Xplorer Capital, Future Capital, Expa, Hessen Kapital III and Corecam Capital Partners. Wingcopter is currently in advanced discussions with investors for its next Series B round.

About Wingcopter

Wingcopter is an award-winning German manufacturer and service provider of eVTOL, fixed-wing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) dedicated to improving and saving the lives of people worldwide through impactful commercial and humanitarian applications. The startup is focused on optimizing medical supply chains. In the future, Wingcopter will also deliver packages, tools and spare parts, as well as food and groceries. Thanks to its patented tilt rotor mechanism, the Wingcopter can take off and land vertically like a multicopter, while flying long distances as efficiently and quickly as a fixed-wing aircraft, even in heavy rain and strong winds.

In 2020, Wingcopter was named a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum. Wingcopter’s investors include Drone Fund, Xplorer Capital, Futury Regio Growth Fund, Futury Ventures, Hessen Kapital III and Corecam Capital Partners.

Learn more at www.wingcopter.com or at Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.