TLDR:
- Aquila, a wireless power startup, raised $2 million in funding led by Alua Group.
- The startup aims to develop optical power-beaming technology to charge drones wirelessly.
Aquila, a deep tech startup founded by Billy Jeremijenko and Nelson Smith, recently closed a $2 million funding round led by Alua Group, with support from existing investors Blackbird and Icehouse. The startup, part of the Startmate accelerator program, has developed a product called Lightway Sentry, which uses photonics to charge drones wirelessly from a transmitter on the ground to a solar cell receiver on a drone in the air. The new capital will be used to accelerate the development of Lightway Sentry for commercial release and expand the team.
In testing, Aquila was able to wirelessly charge drones from a 50m distance, marking a significant advancement in the field. The startup’s long-term vision includes scaling the technology for larger drones, electric aircraft, and eventually satellites. With interest from global customers like the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Aquila aims to revolutionize the energy sector with its wireless power transmission technology.
Alua Group founder Josh Best praised Jeremijenko’s vision as revolutionary and expressed excitement about supporting Aquila’s transition from a promising startup to a market leader in wireless energy solutions. The startup’s ultimate goal is to create an “internet of energy” through space-based optical relay systems that can supply electricity worldwide.
