German aerospace startup VÆRIDION raises €30M for zero-emission regional fights

Munich-based aerospace startup VÆRIDION has secured €30 million in a recent funding round, according to the latest announcement. The company is focused on developing an electric nine-seater aircraft, which is powered entirely by batteries and has a range of up to 400 kilometers. This technology is designed to replace fossil-fuelled vehicles in regional flights, similar to how electric cars have transformed road transport.

Founded in 2021 by former Airbus managers Ivor van Dartel and Dr Sebastian Seemann, VÆRIDION's patented prototype, the Microliner, is currently a nine-seater aircraft. The company aims to expand this technology to provide pan-European flights by 2030. The Microliner is noted for its quieter operation compared to conventional aircraft, making it ideal for smaller airfields and underserved regions.

The Series A2 funding was led by SHIFT Invest, a Netherlands-based venture capital firm, and Invest-NL, the Netherlands' national investment institution. Other investors included World Fund, Project A, and Vsquared Ventures. To date, VÆRIDION has raised around €60 million, and the new funding will be used to develop the first prototype of the Microliner.

The EU has also recognized VÆRIDION's efforts, awarding the company a €94.5 million Innovation Fund grant. This grant will help VÆRIDION further develop its Microliner aircraft and prepare for industrial-scale manufacturing. Ivor van Dartel, founder and CEO of VÆRIDION, expressed enthusiasm about the new funding, stating that it will enable the company to build its first conforming aircraft.