Australian drone technology startup Aerologix has announced its plans for accelerated growth, following a successful $2 million capital raise and the strategic acquisition of global mapping software company, Mappa. The funding round was supported by Lindsay Phillips’ Nightingale Partners, which doubled down on earlier seed raises, with Ellerston Capital also backing the company.
Founded in 2019 by former airline pilot Tom Caska and ex-technology consultant Rakesh Routhu, Aerologix connects drone operators with clients who require aerial imaging services. The company, often referred to as the “Uber for drones,” has already signed up over 29,000 drone pilots since its inception.
Aerologix is now focusing on global expansion, having launched in New Zealand earlier this year, and with plans to expand into North and South America. As part of this expansion strategy, the company has recently acquired Mappa, a cutting-edge mapping technology firm that specializes in high-resolution maps derived from drone data. Mappa has a strong presence in South America and will continue to operate as usual under Aerologix’s management, servicing its roughly 185 customers. Additionally, Mappa’s technology will be integrated into Aerologix’s offerings globally under the new brand, AerologixMaps.
AerologixMaps will seamlessly integrate into the Aerologix Drone Ecosystem, complementing the AerologixFly app. This integration provides pilots with access to patented Aeropath software, which offers an automated flight solution specifically designed for inspecting vertical asset structures through the pilot app. Co-founder and COO Rakesh Routhu said Mappa’s tech was incredibly complementary to Aerologix.
“Mappa was the missing piece in our plan to build a comprehensive global drone ecosystem,” he said.
“This acquisition not only supercharges our growth in South and North America but also provides a platform for a Software as a Service (SaaS) model, along with additional revenue streams derived from monetizing our extensive drone pilot network.”
Co-founder and CEO Tom Caska said interest in the AerologixMaps offering from within the company’s network was enormous.
“A simple, affordable way of making maps is a real value-add for our customers and we already have more than 175 pilots on the waitlist,” he said.
“AerologixMaps also allows us to establish drone pilot networks abroad without having to set up offices in every country. When we set up our platform of drone pilot networks in various international markets, we will have the correct data to do so. Once again, this gives us a strategic advantage over competitors.”
Aerologix’s technology is capable of supporting 135 different types of drones, catering to various industries such as renewable energy, construction, real estate, and infrastructure. The company is among the few drone companies that have been onboarded into Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) digital sky platform. This means that both the Aerologix iOS and Android apps are able to access CASA weather updates, location-based information, and maps that show where pilots are permitted and not permitted to fly.
