FloFleet, an Italian startup specialising in the design and production of electric, autonomous and sustainable airships for the collection of high-precision images and data, announces that it has received an investment of €800,000 from Skylink, a holding company led by entrepreneur Luca Spada, founder and chairman of Eolo. As part of the deal, Luca Spada will assume the role of chairman of FloFleet’s board of directors, while Andrea Cecchi will continue as CEO. The deal aims to support FloFleet’s research and development activities and maximise its commercial growth potential.
FloFleet is developing a new generation of autonomous airships, powered by electric motors and integrated solar panels. FloFleet’s aircraft are designed to ensure long duration missions with high range, carrying sensors and instruments for acquiring information with very high precision. Thanks to the use of helium and an innovative inflatable-wing aerodynamic design, the airships have zero direct CO₂ emissions and up to 90 per cent lower operating costs than conventional helicopters or aircraft, with the goal of reaching 5000 km on one charge in one week of uninterrupted flight.
The main applications include aerial monitoring for environmental and infrastructure inspections, with a focus on the energy, mining and telecommunications sectors. FloFleet autonomous airships enable geophysical subsurface analyses, inspections of power, oil and gas pipelines and network infrastructures, offering an efficient, safe and sustainable solution.
“We are thrilled to have Skylink by our side at this crucial stage of development. This investment will enable us to enhance our research and development activities and bring us even closer to the commercialisation of our next-generation airships. Luca Spada’s experience and expertise, gained from founding and leading Eolo to success, together with his vision of sustainable innovation, represent a fundamental contribution and enormous added value for us,’ says Andrea Cecchi, CEO and founder of FloFleet, in a note.
“In FloFleet, I recognised an excellent example of technological innovation applied to a traditional industrial sector. The autonomous airships developed by the team can truly transform the way we monitor infrastructure and territory, combining high precision, safety and environmental sustainability. As an entrepreneur, I strongly believe in the potential of this solution and I am happy to support FloFleet in its growth and market positioning,’ says Luca Spada.
Nicolò Broggini, who comments on his joining FloFleet, also joins the company and the board: ‘I am excited to take part in this new adventure. I believe that this company has great potential and I am convinced that it will be able to express it to the full”.
Thanks to the capital increase, FloFleet is currently expanding its team of engineers and specialists and will start large-scale tests to optimise the technology. The goal is to introduce the first commercial solutions based on autonomous airships to the market within the next year. With the strategic and financial support of Skylink, FloFleet aims to become a key player in the sustainable aerospace technology landscape, offering a concrete answer to the growing demand for more efficient, safe and environmentally friendly airborne monitoring systems. (photo: FloFleet website)
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ©