Zurich-based Voliro, a leader in aerial robotics for industrial inspection and maintenance, has extended its Series A round to $23 million, adding new investment from noa Ventures and a debt facility from UBS. The original Series A was led by Cherry Ventures.
The funding will drive the global expansion of Voliro’s inspection platform, helping industries modernize critical infrastructure, improve safety, and tackle growing workforce shortages across energy, utilities, and manufacturing.
“Infrastructure is the backbone of modern civilization—and maintaining it is one of the great challenges of our time,” said Florian Gutzwiller, CEO of Voliro. “With noa Ventures and our expanding customer network, we’re turning what once seemed like science fiction into reality: autonomous aerial robots safeguarding the world’s most vital assets.”
The flying robot built for hard-to-reach places
At the core of the technology is the Voliro T, an advanced drone equipped with a tiltable-rotor system and interchangeable sensor payloads. The system enables stable, contact-based inspections on vertical or overhead surfaces — from wind turbine blades and storage tanks to flare stacks and transmission towers.
The startup’s technology allows customers to detect corrosion, structural damage, and anomalies in real time — without putting human inspectors at risk or disrupting operations.
Advertisement
A trillion-dollar maintenance challenge
Ageing infrastructure is responsible for nearly 30% of major industrial accidents in Europe, while corrosion alone costs the global economy $2.5 trillion annually. At the same time, the industry is facing an acute shortage of qualified inspectors, making automation essential for resilience and safety.
“Voliro directly addresses a trifecta of global needs: industrial resilience, climate adaptation, and workforce challenges,” said Gutzwiller. “Our technology is a key tool in protecting the built environment we all rely on.”
Real-world impact in renewable energy
In the wind energy sector, Voliro’s robots have already proven transformative. The Voliro T can inspect lightning protection systems (LPS) on turbine blades up to five times faster than traditional methods, cutting inspection costs by up to 50% while minimizing downtime.
With over 100 contact inspections per month, the company is setting new benchmarks for safety and efficiency in aerial inspection robotics.
From semi-automated to fully autonomous
The new capital will accelerate the development of Voliro’s next-generation platform, featuring AI-powered diagnostics, enhanced cloud integration, and greater autonomy. The company aims to evolve from semi-automated inspections to fully autonomous operations, moving from data collection toward active intervention in industrial maintenance.
“Industrial inspection is one of the biggest opportunities for robotics and automation,” said Gregory Dewerpe, Founder and Managing Partner at noa Ventures. “Voliro’s technology has the potential to redefine how critical infrastructure is maintained and safeguarded in the decades to come.”
About Voliro
Founded in 2019 and spun out of ETH Zurich, Voliro builds advanced aerial robots for industrial inspection and maintenance. Its patented omnidirectional control system allows drones to maintain precise contact with complex surfaces, enabling safer, faster, and more data-driven operations across industries from energy and chemicals to infrastructure and renewables.
