Loading organizations...
Velos Rotors develops and manufactures advanced heavy-lift unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) helicopters. Their core products are fully electric, redundant, single or dual rotor UAVs, exemplified by the Velos V3, a Group II unmanned helicopter. These aircraft prioritize performance and reliability, utilizing pioneering twin-engine designs for demanding professional applications.
Founded by Aris Kolokythas and Tassos Argyros, Velos Rotors has been developing UAVs for over a decade. The company originated from the critical need for highly reliable, all-electric heavy-lift drone technology, moving beyond traditional single-engine designs. Kolokythas, as CEO, has guided the company's establishment as a key manufacturer.
Velos Rotors' products serve professional clients requiring robust aerial platforms for demanding tasks. The company envisions producing the highest-performing and most dependable aircraft, continually advancing unmanned helicopter capabilities. This forward-looking approach addresses evolving industrial and operational requirements.
Velos Rotors has raised $2.0M across 1 funding round.
Velos Rotors has raised $2.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Velos Rotors has raised $2.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $2.0M Seed in April 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2023 | $2M Seed | Marathon Venture Capital | Market ONE Capital, VentureFriends, Alejandro Artacho, Melih Odemis | Announced |
Velos Rotors has raised $2.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Velos Rotors's investors include Marathon Venture Capital, Market One Capital, VentureFriends, Alejandro Artacho, Melih Odemis.
Velos Rotors is a technology company that designs and manufactures electric, heavy-lift UAV helicopters for industrial and dual-use applications.[1][2][3] Its core products, such as the Velos V3—a fully patented twin-engine, single-rotor UAV—and the upcoming V-Twin tandem helicopter, deliver up to 90 minutes of flight time, payloads up to 25 kg (55 lbs), and reliable operation in harsh conditions.[1][3][4] The company serves customers in over 20 countries, including sectors like surveillance, payload delivery with sensors (e.g., LIDAR, thermal cameras), and heavy-lift missions, solving challenges in endurance, payload capacity, and weather resilience where multirotor drones fall short.[1][2][3] With hundreds of units sold over a decade, seed funding of $2M raised recently, and ongoing partnerships (e.g., with KULR for vibration reduction), Velos demonstrates strong growth momentum as a proven platform in the 25 kg UAV class.[1][2][4]
Velos Rotors traces its roots to 2011, when the team began designing a revolutionary fully redundant RC helicopter platform, leading to the market launch of the Velos 880 in 2014—the first RC helicopter with a dual-motor transmission and innovative rotor system for superior performance and agility.[1][3] This marked the company's formal establishment in 2014 (though some sources cite 2011 as the founding year), initially based in Xylokastro, Greece, with a U.S. presence in Wilmington, Delaware.[1][2][3] By 2016, rising UAV demand prompted expansion into professional drones, evolving the Velos 880 into the Velos UAV platform.[3] Key milestones include the 2019 launch of Velos V2 with payload-over-rotor (POR) options, the 2021 V3 upgrade for advanced firmware and components, and recent developments like the V-Twin, building on over 10 years of market presence and hundreds of units sold worldwide.[1][3]
Velos Rotors stands out in the UAV market through these key strengths:
Velos Rotors rides the surge in heavy-lift UAVs for dual-use (civilian/industrial and defense) applications, capitalizing on demand for electric, endurance-focused helicopters amid multirotor limitations in payload and flight time.[1][2][4] Timing aligns with regulatory progress in BVLOS operations, electrification trends, and defense needs for unmanned surveillance/interception, amplified by geopolitical tensions favoring European deep-tech like Velos' Greek origins.[3][4] Market forces—such as industrial adoption for inspection, logistics, and sensor missions—favor its 25 kg class niche, where it influences the ecosystem by setting reliability standards and partnering on innovations like vibration tech, bridging RC hobbyist roots to professional UAV maturity.[1][2][3]
Velos Rotors is poised for expansion with the V-Twin launch, targeting escalated payloads and trials validating enhancements like KULR's vibration tech, potentially unlocking defense contracts and industrial scaling.[1][2][4] Trends like AI-driven autonomy, hybrid power integration, and stricter emissions rules will shape its path, amplifying its edge in electric heavy-lift amid a UAV market projected for rapid growth. Its influence may evolve from niche reliability leader to broader ecosystem player, powering missions that redefine unmanned heavy transport—just as its V3 solidified a decade of dominance.[1][3]
