SG drone startup swoops up $26m in series B money

Singapore-based H3 Dynamics, which offers commercial drone services that use automation and machine learning, said it secured US$26 million in its series B round.

The fundraise was led by Japan’s Mirai Creation Fund, which is managed by Sparx Asset Management on behalf of Toyota and the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. Other backers include ACA Investors, Capital Management Group, the Grosvenor Group, Audacy Ventures, Ascent Hydrogen Fund, and ATEQ.

Photo credit: H3 Dynamics

H3 Dynamics is an aerial mobility firm that focuses specifically on hydrogen propulsion, aerial systems automation, and software services. It is developing low-carbon hydrogen-powered flight tech in three phases. It will start with drones and then go on to carry cargo and, ultimately, passengers.

The company said it will use the fresh capital to fuel its entry into the cargo space. Part of the funds will go into accelerating its global expansion, which includes bolstering its global engineering and sales teams in the US and France.

The drone startup said it has recently partnered with French conglomerate Thales to build an urban air mobility infrastructure. It will kick things off with camera drones but aims to expand into larger unmanned cargo deliveries.

H3 Dynamics is also about to release its autonomous drone nesting ports, aiming to help expert drone pilots navigate tall buildings in some Asian cities. These ports will enable drones to send data through 5G networks and make them more visible in real time across national airspaces.