Swiss Startup Voliro Wins UAE Drone Innovation Start-Up Contest
Voliro, a Swiss startup focusing on omnidirectional drones for interaction and uninhibited observation, has added another feather to its innovative Hexacopter drone.
In a unique ‘innovation meets erudition’ situation at the grand finale event of a contest for most innovative drones organized by Krypto Labs, the global incubator with a unique ecosystem for ground-breaking startups, Voliro’s hexacopter clinched the winner’s title .
The Drone Innovation Start-Up Contest (DISC) is aimed at recognizing the top innovators who contribute to redefine the conventional wisdom in context of aerial mobility and its entrepreneurial potential startups. The highly anticipated competition has provided beneficial contributions in the field of aerial photography, transportation and logistics, disaster management, search and rescue operations, terrestrial mapping, building management, law enforcement surveillance, and weather forecasting.
This one of its kind contest witnessed an astounding number of attendees comprising industry experts, entrepreneurs, and investors. With over 600 applicants from 61 countries, five finalists were chosen to pitch live onstage at Krypto Labs’ facility.
One start-up, however, managed to impress the jury and earned the title of DISC 2018 winner – the Voliro. The startup, which consist of 11 students from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich) and Zurich University of the Arts (ZHDK), hopes to open up a world of new possibilities by designing a Hexacopter that can hover in any orientation in the air by decoupling its position and its orientation completely, giving the System the ability to perform acrobatic maneuvers.
Within 9 months Voliro developed this Hexacopter with 6 individually tiltable axes that allow the most unthinkable flight maneuvers till date. This opens up a world of new possible applications. Voliro received $US500,000 in funding, and vital assistance, including mentorship, and access to a worldwide network.
The conscientious process of choosing a final winner needed a judging panel of drone industry experts, serial entrepreneurs and prominent founders, including Dr. Saleh Al Hashemi, Managing Director of Krypto Labs, Zach Coelius, Early stage technology investor and advisor, Amir Kalaoun, Director of International Business Development at Aurora Flight Sciences, John Ramey, Startup investor and advisor, innovation design expert, and Amir Hirsc, Founder at Flybrix, an Education-Focused Drone Developer.
Dr. Saleh, Managing Director of Krypto Labs, said “Today, advances in drone technology are revolutionizing many industries and practices of business, and I am proud to say that Krypto Labs is one of the best places to inspire innovators to seek their dreams. In this contest, we aim to recognize top innovators who are contributing to this industry in many different sectors. We received 600 applications from 61 countries and tonight I feel very privileged and honored to stand in front of all of you and acknowledge these groundbreaking startups and their founders.”
The Drone Innovation Startup Contest comes in alignment with the UAE National Innovation Strategy and the UAE Vision 2021 based on “innovation, research and technology will form the pillars of a knowledge-based, highly productive and competitive economy, driven by entrepreneurs in a business-friendly environment where public and private sectors form effective partnerships”.
