Indoor drone production firm earns $18M financing round

Verity Studios AG will use $18 million in Series A funding to expand its indoor drone service into the U.S. The Zurich-based company that spun-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in 2014, provides drone-based aerial displays, shows and entertainment elements for several indoor-focused clients, including, Cirque du Soleil, Metallica, Madison Square Garden and others.

Fontinalis Partners, a venture capital firm focused on next-generation mobility technologies, led the investment round that included Airbus Ventures, Sony Innovation Fund and Kitty Hawk.

The company utilizes proprietary algorithms and systems architecture to produce small drone aerial displays.

Raffaello D’Andrea, company founder and noted artificial intelligence expert, also founded Kiva Systems that has been acquired by Amazon and rebranded as Amazon Robotics.

Gen Tscuchikawa, chief investment manager at Sony Innovation Fund, said that entertain is a large field that offers a wide range of innovation. “Where entertainment meets technology is a very important area for Sony,” he said.

Jean-Francois Bouchard, chief creative officer of Cirque du Soleil, said his team was stunned by the abilities of Vertiy. “It creates moments of pure magic when you’re not sure if what you are seeing is possible.”

Verity provides a trademarked synthetic swam that is a turn-key purpose-built system for live entertainment. According to the company, it allows for the controlled, indoor flight of a large number of self-piloted Lucies—micro drones equipped with programmable RGB lights. With the company’s stage flyers, material or costumes can be placed on the micro drones.

To see Verity’s drone shows, click here.