Skyports Raises $23 Million in Series B

Skyports Raises USD 23M in First Close of Series B Funding Round

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby

Advanced air mobility leader Skyports has acquired USD 23 million in the first close of its Series B funding round. The funding, raised from a mix of new and existing investors, will allow the company to strengthen its status as a global leader in the advanced air mobility infrastructure and drone operations sectors.

Existing shareholders such as Deutsche Bahn Digital Ventures, Groupe ADP, Solar Ventus, Irelandia and Levitate Capital all contributed to the round, with several significantly increasing their stake.

Previous investors were joined by Japanese conglomerate Kanematsu Corporation, which will take a seat on the Skyports board. Other new investors include global industrial property group Goodman Group, Italian airport platform 2i Aeroporti, backed by Ardian’s Infrastructure Fund and F2i Italian Infrastructure Fund, and US based VC firm GreenPoint. Also joining the board is DHL eCommerce CEO Ken Allen, joining as an independent non-executive director.

The new funding and backing from investors will provide Skyports with the ability to increase the speed of its electric air taxi operations, supplying take-off and landing infrastructure in key launch markets, as well as scale its Drone Services practices in new and existing markets, further developing its active operations in the UK, Europe and Asia.

“This is another great milestone for Skyports as we continue our journey to be the leading vertiport owner and operator in the world,” said Skyports CEO Duncan Walker. “The support of our original investors who have deep experience in aviation and infrastructure and the addition of new capital from world class companies with a global footprint enables us to build the air taxi eco-system alongside our best-in-class vehicle partners for initial operations within a couple of years. Our growing Drone Services business puts us ahead of the curve with technology development, regulation and operational experience whilst reducing carbon emissions by using drones for a broad range of customers.

Read more about Skyports:

• Swoop Aero, Skyports, BD Rowa Partner: Air Logistics in the Pharmaceutical Industry
• Drones on Cape Cod: Skyports and MassDOT Partner to Connect Remote Communities
• Skyports Receives Light UAS Operator Certificate, So They Can Self-Authorize BVLOS Flights
• Skyports in Scotland Collaborates on Space Enabled; Drone Delivery
• Skyports Drone Delivery Joins U.K. CAA ;Regulatory Sandbox to Trial BVLOS Flights

 

Ian attended Dominican University of California, where he received a BA in English in 2019. With a lifelong passion for writing and storytelling and a keen interest in technology, he is now contributing to DroneLife as a staff writer.