Drones, because Leonardo joins the Italian startup FlyingBasket supported by Bombassei

6 June 202311 months ago babelfish

Leonardo has acquired 10% of FlyingBasket, a Bolzano-based startup of remotely piloted aircraft that could play a role in the future national logistics network, based on the use of cargo drones. All the details

Leonardo focuses on the cargo drones of the Italian startup FlyingBasket.

The Italian defense and aerospace giant "has completed in recent days – through the exercise of an option stipulated in 2021 and linked to the achievement of pre-set objectives – its entry into the capital of FlyingBasket and its appointment to the Board of Directors of one member by co-optation. Following this transaction, Leonardo will hold approximately 10% of the company, with approximately 25% held by Cysero – a Venture Capital fund promoted by AVM Gestioni SGR and by Kilometro Rosso, which invested directly in the company in March 2022 – and the remaining 65% divided between the founders and managers of the company” announced a joint press release.

The company headed by Roberto Cingolani had already signed "a technical and commercial agreement" with FlyingBasket, as Leonardo's website explained in 2021. In addition to the one with Leonardo, the startup boasts excellent collaborations with players such as Enel and Cablex (Swisscom group). Furthermore, in December 2021 the startup, in collaboration with Poste Italiane, flew over the sky of Turin delivering parcels by air for the first time.

All the details.

WHAT FLYINGBASKET DOES

Founded in 2015 by Moritz and Mathias Moroder, FlyingBasket's corporate mission is to become the world leader in cargo drones for application in critical situations from a safety point of view together with applications developed in the field of renewables, in particular for wind power , and participation in important tenders in the logistics and defense fields.

FlyingBasket is at the forefront of the drone sector, as the company was the first in Europe to receive confirmation for cross-border operations based on the operational authorization issued by ENAC, the Italian National Civil Aviation Authority, specifies the South Tyrolean startup on its website.

THE FEATURES OF THE FB3 DRONE

FlyingBasket's reference product is the FB3 drone, capable of transporting goods with a maximum load of 100kg for activities such as industrial logistics, forestry transport, antenna assembly and power line construction.

“FB3 belongs to the category of unmanned vertical take-off and landing systems (Vertical take-off and Landing UAS) and is the leader in drones for heavy payloads in safety-critical applications. The system weighs 70kg and is suitable for carrying loads of up to 100kg per flight. Conceived mainly for civil applications, FB3 can also be used in military logistics missions" specified a note from Leonardo on the occasion of the Earth Technology EXPO in Florence in 2021.

“In the immediate future they could be used for the delivery of mail and parcels to sorting centers and for logistical operations in war and relief areas. The advantages are obvious: rapid delivery and about two-thirds lower cost than using a helicopter. FlyingBasket is also working on transforming the drone into a means of passenger transport that can be used for short journeys” reports Il Sole 24 Ore.

WHO ARE THE INVESTORS

After the start-up phase, FlyingBasket has become a leader in the cargo drone industry.

As Bebeez recalls, "in 2021 FlyingBasket was selected for the Intesa Sanpaolo Elite Lounge 202 financial acceleration path, while in 2020 it became part of the MassChallenge Switzerland 2020 Accelerator program".

In March 2022, the Cysero fund of AVM Gestioni SGR and Kilometro Rosso, focused on robotics and cyber security, completed the first investment round of FlyingBasket worth 1.5 million euro.

This fund was created at the end of 2020 on the initiative of Alberto Bombassei (President of Kilometro Rosso) and Giovanna Dossena (AVM) with the participation of some of the most active families in industrial investments: Radici, Persico, Fassi, Cogliati, Pasini and Borromeo. It is also participated by Cdp and by the Enpaia fund.

After the entry of the Cysero fund, therefore, “the interest of Leonardo arrived, as partner and subscriber of an option to enter the capital. Lastly, in recent days, the exercise of the option” specifies Il Sole 24 Ore.

THE FLYINGBASKET STRATEGY WITH LEONARDO

“Leonardo's interest – which after selecting FlyingBasket as preferred supplier will now make infrastructure and technological assets available to the investee – is linked to the role that FlyingBasket could play in the future national logistics network, based on the use of cargo drones. Furthermore, the entry of the multinational into the capital will favor, thanks also to the direct involvement in the governance, the growth path of the company already started with the contribution of the Cysero fund” indicates the joint note.

"The entry of Leonardo SpA consolidates a relationship already developed over the years in which the know-how and the network available to the company has allowed the growth of FlyingBasket" underlines Moritz Moroder, CEO of FlyingBasket. “The path that has begun will see further developments thanks to this initiative and confirms the interest of investors and industrial stakeholders in the project created in 2015 which aims to bring our innovative solutions to Italy and Europe to promote the values of sustainability and accessibility in the airplane transport".

This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/smartcity/droni-perche-leonardo-entra-nella-startup-italiana-flyingbasket-sostenuta-da-bombassei/ on Tue, 06 Jun 2023 11:07:10 +0000.