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Robot maker · registered

Fotokite

Corporate marketinspectionsecurityCurated record
fotokite.com

Fully autonomous tethered UAS with single-button takeoff, hover, and landing; proprietary flight-control software handles station-keeping, drift compensation, and three-axis gimbal stabilisation for simultaneous thermal and optical feeds; continuous 24+ hour operation via ground tether eliminates battery swaps and removes Part 107 / COA regulatory requirements for US public-safety operators; deployed without trained pilots.

HeadquartersZurich, CH
Founded2014
Corporate funding$26M
Team51-100
Deployments3
Open roles0
01

Company overview

Identity and operating footprint

Company typeRobot maker
Market segmentCorporate
StageSeries B
FoundersSergei Lupashin
Regions servedNorth America, Europe
Countries deployedUS, FR, GB, IT, CH, CA, NO
Service footprintHQ Zurich CH; North America offices in Boulder CO and Syracuse NY; 1,000+ Sigma/Sigma+ units deployed with fire and police departments across US, France, UK, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Norway, and additional countries; hardware, support, and training bun
Last reviewed2026-07-05
MX

Robot models

Specifications remain vendor-claimed

Machineinspection

Fotokite Sigma

  • 1.3 kg carbon-fibre airframe

    vendor-stated drone weight

    Claim source
  • 24+ hours continuous flight time via ground tether

    vendor-stated runtime via tethered ground power

    Claim source
  • 45 m maximum tether altitude

    vendor-stated maximum operational altitude

    Claim source
  • IP55 weather resistance

    vendor-stated ingress-protection rating

    Claim source
DP

Deployment log

Announced and cited only

AnnouncedCustomerSiteCountryCountEvidence
2025-10-06Groupe Protecevent security / crowd management (Air Legend air show, France)FRNot disclosedAnnouncement
2022-01-01Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD)fire responseUSNot disclosedAnnouncement
2020-01-01New York Police Department (NYPD)counter-terrorism / event securityUSNot disclosedAnnouncement
CA

Funding history

Publicly announced rounds

Investors on recordCarbyne Equity PartnersSwisscanto Private Equity Growth ICredit Suisse Entrepreneur Capital LtdMSA SafetySony Innovation Fund360 Capital PartnersQualcomm Ventures
TL

Company timeline

Milestones and announcements

2026-04-13Surpassed 1,000 units deployed worldwide across public safety, enterprise, and defense sectorsFotokite
2026-01-05Launched Fotokite Sigma+: improved GPS, redesigned gimbal, optional IR+ 640 thermal camera, stronger tether and batteriesFotokite
2024-04-12Closed CHF 10 M (~$11 M) Series B tranche led by Carbyne Equity Partners; total raised reported as exceeding $26 M; systems operating on six continentsVenturelab
2014-03-01Founded as Perspective Robotics AG, ETH Zurich spin-off, commercialising tethered-drone technologyFotokite
SC

Source ledger

13 unique public sources

01
About FotokiteFotokite · retrieved 2026-07-05
02
Fotokite secures investment round, achieves strong growth and expands global reach (CHF 10M Series B)Fotokite · retrieved 2026-07-05
03
Fotokite announces closing financing, market expansion and executive team appointments (CHF 13.7M Series B)Fotokite · retrieved 2026-07-05
04
Credit Suisse Entrepreneur Capital Ltd. invests in Zurich-based start-up Perspective Robotics (undisclosed amount)Fotokite · retrieved 2026-07-05
05
GENIUS NY Startups Raise Over $10 Million in Follow-On FundingsUAS News · retrieved 2026-07-05
06
$250,000 for Fotokite from Qualcomm (QPrize Europe seed investment competition win)Fotokite · retrieved 2026-07-05
07
Fotokite Sigma: product pageFotokite · retrieved 2026-07-05
08
Fotokite deployed by Groupe Protec at Air Legend air show for event security and crowd managementX/Fotokite_ · retrieved 2026-07-05
09
Tethered drones becoming a staple for police and fire departmentsFotokite · retrieved 2026-07-05
10
Securely tethered UAV by Fotokite aids NYPD counterterrorism efforts at New Year's EveFotokite · retrieved 2026-07-05
11
Fotokite Surpasses 1,000 Units Deployed WorldwideFotokite · retrieved 2026-07-05
12
Fotokite Introduces Sigma+Fotokite · retrieved 2026-07-05
13
Fotokite secures USD 11 Million in Series B FundingVenturelab · retrieved 2026-07-05