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Sydney-based drone company Aerologix has secured $4.2 million in its latest capital funding round, which will see it expand its “Uber-style” drone platform internationally.
The funding round was led by Australian investment manager Ellerston Capital and Lindsay Phillips’ Nightingale Partners, which also contributed to the company’s earlier pre-seed funding round.
Aerologix said this round of funding will allow it to invest in additional research and development, as well as bolster its commercial team and support the company’s global expansion.
“We’re thrilled to be backed by Ellerston Capital and to receive a second round of support from Nightingale,” said Aerologix co-founder Tom Caska.
“It’s further validation of our vision and commercial viability. We’re excited to expand here at home and offshore in Asia and Europe in the near future.”
It comes as the company announced it has expanded its network of Australian drone pilots from 500 to over 10,000 in the last 12 months alone.
Founded in 2019 by Caska, an ex-airline pilot, and his business partner Rakesh Routhu, a technology consultant, Aerologix has been dubbed the “Uber for drones”, which connects drone pilots directly with people or clients seeking drone imaging.
Since the pandemic hit, the company has advocated for former airline pilots that were stood down or made redundant for their roles to re-train as drone pilots, supporting their local growth.
The company offers a CASA-approved-and-integrated app to drone pilots across both Apple and Android platforms and aims to provide pilots with a “seamless flight experience”.
Ellerston’s head of private investments – advisory and distribution, Stuart Robertson said, “Aerologix benefits from being a key technology platform that enables drone pilots to complete complex data captures for organisations that have significant infrastructure.
“We are pleased to support Aerologix’s accelerated growth ambitions in Australia and globally.”
Last year, Australian Aviation reported that Aerologix has secured a $1.5 million investment from private equity firm Nightingale Partners, 18 months after launching. Since then, Aerologix has also received funding from the University of NSW’s 10x Accelerator program.
Then, in November, Aerologix was onboarded into CASA’s “digital sky platform”, which helps to keep users updated on important “location-based information” about restricted airspace and dangerous areas, and where drones can or can’t be flown.
