Detroit-based Airspace Link Inc., a North American provider of solutions to help the FAA, state, and local government agencies better plan for and manage the safe integration of drone technologies into communities, has announced the completion of a $10-million series A capital raise with Bay Area-based investor Altos Ventures.
“Airspace Link acts like the Google Maps (Waze) for drones, but the roads, rules, and regulations are not in place yet,” says Michael Healander, CEO of Airspace Link. “Our core purpose is to safely integrate drones into the national airspace and our communities at scale. We thank Altos Ventures and Thales for joining our vision of paving the way for the drone economy with shared, neutral and affordable UAS infrastructure.”
Earlier this month, the company took part in the first multi-modal transport demonstration using both ground and air autonomous vehicles in Ohio. They teamed up with VyrtX, a logistics software provider, and JobsOhio, to deliver blood tubes, vessels, and tissues in a small Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). Airspace Link’s AirHub solution provided the digital infrastructure by facilitating authorization when the UAS arrived at the KOSU airport.
In North Dakota, the company has teamed up with Northern Plains UAS Test Site, the North Dakota DOT, Grand Forks, ND-based VantisUAS, the FAA BEYOND program, and French air traffic management systems provider Thales Group to implement critical drone infrastructure throughout the state.
Thales, the eighth largest defense contractor in the world with operations in more than 68 countries, also completed the series A raise with Altos.
“As Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) usage continues to grow, for safe, low altitude operations around communities, airspace management must combine both air and ground insights,” says Todd Donovan, vice president of Thales Airspace Mobility Solutions Americas. “Our deep knowledge of airspace management and Airspace Link’s expertise in geospatial intelligence are the perfect combination to address this complex challenge.”
Founded in 1996, Altos Ventures is an early-stage investor with a global investment focus in consumer and enterprise companies. Altos currently manages more than $10 billion in regulatory assets under management across more than 100 companies.
