Dronus Raises $15 Million for Autonomous Drone Infrastructure

The Italian deep tech company Dronus has closed a $15 million funding round. The round was led by Algebris Investments. Other participants include Azimut, CDP Venture Capital, SIMEST, and Eni Next, the corporate venture arm of the energy conglomerate ENI, which has further expanded its existing investment.

The company plans to use the fresh capital to further develop its patented NEST® technology and drive its international expansion.

Drones as Fixed Infrastructure

At the heart of the technology is NEST®, an autonomous docking node that transforms drones into a permanently available infrastructure. The stations automatically handle takeoff, landing, and recharging of the drones, thereby enabling fully automated operation.

The architecture allows for the creation of distributed drone networks capable of monitoring critical infrastructure, industrial facilities, or public spaces around the clock. Thanks to its modular design, any number of NEST® stations can be connected to form a comprehensive network.

AI-powered 24/7 monitoring

The platform combines artificial intelligence with high-resolution cameras and is designed for BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) operations. This allows drones to operate autonomously even outside the pilot’s direct line of sight.

Applications include the monitoring of energy and industrial facilities, smart city applications, disaster response, and inspections of critical infrastructure. Part of the fleet also holds ATEX certification, allowing the systems to be deployed in potentially explosive atmospheres such as oil and gas facilities.

Of particular note is the company’s regulatory standing: According to its own statements, Dronus is the only European company to hold two Design Verification Reports from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for BVLOS operations in urban areas.

International Projects and Strong Industry Partners

The technology has already been validated in industrial use cases in collaboration with ENI, including for detecting leaks in ATEX environments. In addition, Dronus is operating a government-funded smart city project in Singapore in collaboration with the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX).

A technology partnership with Qualcomm further underscores the company’s international focus.

Founder with Decades of Drone Experience

Dronus was founded in 2018 by aerospace engineer Marco Ballerini. The founder previously held executive positions at Northrop Grumman and Selex ES, among others, and founded the Unmanned Technology Research Institute (UTRI) in 2003, which was later acquired by what is now the Leonardo Group.

Today, Dronus employs more than 30 people and positions itself as a provider of autonomous aerial infrastructure for industry, energy utilities, security agencies, and smart cities.