Fotokite a Swiss startup making fully autonomous tethered UAVs for firefighting and public safety teams, announces that it has closed a CHF 13.7M ($14.8M) series B financing round and outlines its plans to expand operations in 2022.
MSA Safety Inc., the pioneer in the development, manufacture, and supply of advanced safety solutions that protect people and facility infrastructures, led Fotokite’s financing round alongside Swisscanto Invest, a Zurich-based tech growth fund with existing investors including Credit Suisse Entrepreneur Capital Ltd. and Sony Innovation Fund participating as well.
MSA Safety’s investment in Fotokite took place in parallel with a Joint Development Agreement with the Swiss UAV manufacturer signed in July 2021.
Commitment to innovation
“We are thrilled to partner with Fotokite and its management team, which shares our commitment to innovation and passion for firefighter safety," states Nish Vartanian, MSA’s Chairman, President, and CEO
Scaling up operations
The capital infusion is helping enable Fotokite to scale up operations, further bolster its in-house engineering team, and continue to drive sales of its Fotokite Sigma system in North American and European markets.
The company has continued to strengthen its presence in the United States and Canada while expanding its fleet of fielded systems across major European markets such as Switzerland, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.
A key component to this market expansion has been the company’s drive to increase the regional accessibility of Fotokite Sigma systems to public safety teams across 17 countries in Europe alone.
Innovations in safety
MSA has invested heavily in transformative solutions that enhance worker safety in all kinds of environments
“MSA has invested heavily in transformative solutions that enhance worker safety in all kinds of environments, and our partnership with Fotokite adds a dynamic new element in that journey.”
“Without question, it will be exciting to see the innovations in safety that emerge from our work together,” says Nish Vartanian, MSA’s Chairman, President, and CEO
Aerial situational awareness
As a self-piloting, actively tethered aerial device, Fotokite Sigma provides immediate aerial situational awareness of an emergency scene to help increase response effectiveness and first responder safety.
These situational awareness systems provide fire departments with the overhead aerial capabilities they desire without the safety issues and operational inefficiencies of traditional drones.
New appointments
The situational awareness systems provide fire departments with the overhead aerial capabilities they desire
Additionally, Fotokite announces the appointment of Bart Slager as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer. Bart was brought onto the Fotokite team as the Chief Financial Officer last September and steps in to lead the team.
Chris McCall will transition into a new role as Fotokite’s Chief Corporate Development Officer and be based in California.
Dr. Sergei Lupashin, Founder, Chairman, and CTO of Fotokite, has decided to move away from his day-to-day operations role as CTO and will focus solely on his role as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Authority comment
“The entire team is excited to announce the new financing as well as welcome Bart as Fotokite’s new CEO as we grow and expand our capabilities to serve first responders”, says Dr. Lupashin.
“Bart brings tremendously valuable experience and insights from his rich career in the aviation industry.”
“We are very pleased to have his leadership as we execute on our mission to help teams save lives by providing the best technology and actionable intelligence to first responders,” Dr. Sergei Lupashin, Founder of Fotokite, Chairman