AirMap, a world leading management platform for drones, announced today that they have received Series B investments from Microsoft Ventures, Qualcomm and others. This announcement comes after AirMap had raised around $17 million in initial funding, and means that the company has plans to “accelerate the global adoption” of its airspace management platform (via VentureBeat.)
The latest move from Microsoft Ventures is quite interesting, given that the company recently announced that they would be open sourcing their Aerial Informatics and Robotics Platform which ultimately lets people test and train robots and drones in a virtual environment. AirMap, nonetheless, has also created similar technologies which allow for drone operators to ensure that their UAVs fly safely.
In a blog post, the company detailed that they have hopes that the Series B funding will mark the next chapter in the future of drones:
Whatever future you can imagine for drones – from package delivery to flying cars – we are confident that the drone industry has the potential to surpass even the most bullish predictions… Our Series B round marks the beginning of the next chapter for AirMap. We’re looking forward to quickly bringing AirMap’s airspace management platform and solutions for cybersecurity, geofencing, Unmanned aircraft Traffic Management (UTM), and more to new markets worldwide. As we expand globally, we’re opening offices in Berlin, Germany, and at the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California. Our team, our platform, and our community of partners will continue to grow.
Along with Microsoft Venures, other key companies in the Series B investment include Airbus Ventures, Rakuten, Sony, Yuneec, General Catalyst, and Lux Capital. In another statement, Nagraj Kashyap, corporate vice president of Microsoft Ventures reflected on the announcement of the Series B investments:
“AirMap is a leader in low-altitude airspace management and will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the drone industry… We’re excited to support their growth and, by extension, the growth of commercial and recreational applications for both piloted and autonomous drones. We believe that by investing in companies like AirMap, Microsoft’s resources, platforms, and AI technologies can help fuel the future of the drone ecosystem.”
AirMap was founded in Santa Monica, California in 2014. According to the company’s website, millions of drones and hundreds of partners rely on AirMap’s data and services for safe and efficient drone flight. You can learn more about the company by visiting this website. Once you’ve checked it out, let us know what you think by dropping us a comment below.
