The EU-Startups Podcast | Interview with Károly Ludvigh, CEO and co-founder of ABZ Innovation

In this episode of the EU-Startups Podcast, we speak with Károly Ludvigh, CEO and co-founder of ABZ Innovation, one of Europe's leading manufacturers of heavy-duty agricultural and industrial drones. Based in Hungary, ABZ Innovation designs and builds drones for various applications, including spraying, spreading, cleaning, and specialized industrial uses. The company boasts operations in more than 40 countries and recently opened a manufacturing facility in Szentendre, one of Europe's largest civilian drone factories.

Károly's journey to creating ABZ Innovation began in tech journalism and as a hobbyist in his basement, developing drone systems over a decade ago. He emphasizes simplicity and reliability over hype, which is evident in ABZ's approach to drone technology. When the company aimed to provide drone-based crop spraying, they found that existing products failed to meet the reliability standards necessary for a sustainable business. Consequently, ABZ decided to build its own drones from the ground up.

The agricultural sector may appear traditional, but farmers are embracing rapid technological change. ABZ Innovation's drones are transforming the day-to-day work of farmers by offering a practical automation tool for complex environments. The war in Ukraine has also reshaped Europe's drone industry, affecting manufacturing capacity, investment, and the push towards local production.

ABZ Innovation's stance is on agricultural and civilian industrial applications, avoiding dual-use and defence applications. The company aims to scale its drone technology across more than 40 markets with diverse regulatory environments.