Grenoble, France, December 8, 2022 – The startup Darwin Drones, which develops and markets the Eyesee drone inventory count, announces a €1 million round of funding, bringing in the Groupe Idec through its investment subsidiary Team Invest Innovation, the Crédit Agricole Alpes Développement, as well as several business angels.
Accelerating sales of the drone inventory count in France and Europe
The startup now has the necessary means for the commercial deployment of Eyesee to logistics and industrial sites in France and abroad. After having attracted first customers such as L’Oréal, Bayer, DB Schenker, and Leroy Logistique, who adopted the Eyesee offer since its prototype stage, Darwin Drones is now aiming to set up a network of distributors and integrators in its main target markets.
“This fundraising, following an initial market validation, confirms the relevance of Eyesee’s positioning to automate and make the inventory processes of industrial and logistic sites more reliable. We are delighted to welcome new shareholders who are commited to our side. This funding allows us to start our acceleration and internationalization phase with serenity and determination.”, comments Eric Pierrel, president of Darwin Drones.
An innovative solution « made in Grenoble »
Eyesee was born in 2015 from a Grenoble-based collaboration combining the logistics DNA of Hardis Group and the industrial drone expertise of Squadrone System. It was therefore quite obvious for Darwin Drones to approach investors active in the Grenoble area, in particular Crédit Agricole Alpes Développement and Grenoble Angels.
“The Eyesee project, led by Darwin Drones, showcases Grenoble’s technological and commercial expertise on a national level and is now beginning its international journey. We are delighted to be able to support this project and especially the management team, which combines an ability to listen with notable responsiveness and dynamism.“, explains Rami Hassoun, equity investor at Crédit Agricole Alpes Développement.
“For us, supporting such a project means that we believe in the strong development potential of the Eyesee inventory drone solution dedicated to stocktaking within logistics sites using an autonomous drone. Eyesee has been proven for more than 5 years with many customers already using it, demonstrating impressive results compared to traditional stocktaking methods. Darwin Drones is determined to deploy this disruptive solution on a larger scale in France and internationally for the logistics sector, which is always on the lookout for innovative and reliable solutions to improve productivity. Finally, Eyesee was created and developed in the Grenoble area by experts in logistics and drone engineering, it was thus important to support this project in its commercial launch phase.”, explains Jean-Yves Costa, the project’s instructor and investor at Grenoble Angels.
Synergy-building investors
The development of partnerships being a strong vector for growth for Darwin Drones, the recent fundraising is also an opportunity to create synergies. Thus, the Groupe Idec, a major player in real estate and construction, which operates as a planner and developer, investor, turnkey designer-builder, and creator of energy solutions, is joining the Eyesee project to accelerate its market access.
“Our stake in Eyesee is the result of a global approach to the need for tools that promote the development of industry and logistics 4.0“, comments Patrice Lafargue, President of Groupe Idec. “We are thrilled to partner with the Darwin Drones team and its other shareholders to develop this project, which combines an innovative vision and a pragmatic approach to strengthen the digitalization of logistics platforms. We have an incredible portfolio of projects with some 700,000 m2 of warehouses that we build each year and the nearly 1,700,000 m2 of buildable space throughout France to give this innovative solution a tremendous boost.”
Thanks to the press!
About Darwin Drones
Founded in 2021, Darwin Drones is specialized in the development and marketing of industrial logistics automation solutions, especially by drone. Darwin Drones also provides services associated with this activity. The company is dedicated to the sales, support and software development of the Eyesee solution for the logistics market.
Press contact: Nora NESSER – +33(0)6.43.53.64.01 – nora.nesser@eyesee-drone.com
About Crédit Agricole Alpes Développement
C2AD is the private equity vehicle of Crédit Agricole Sud Rhône-Alpes and Crédit Agricole des Savoie. Crédit Agricole Alpes Développement is involved in venture capital, innovation capital, development capital and transmission capital (startup, SME and ETI). C2AD manages €100 million, invested in 180 companies.
Press contact: Rami HASSOUN, – equity investor – rami.hassoun@ca-alpes-developpement.fr
About Groupe Idec
Groupe Idec is a major player in the real estate sector, bringing together more than twenty companies with expertise in their fields. It operates in France and abroad to plan, develop, finance
and provide innovative energy solutions, as well as to design and construct all types of buildings.
It positions itself as a responsible player in the energy transition and in limiting the artificialization of land. The company works with local authorities on each new operation to revitalize territories by creating new living and working spaces. This commitment translates into a desire to contribute to the green growth of cities, businesses and individuals, while meeting the challenges of
sustainable, coherent and pragmatic economic development.
Key figures:
▪ Year of creation: 2000
▪ 500 employees in France + 700 worldwide
▪ 500 million euros of Revenues
▪ 3 million m2 certified
▪ 20 companies in France
▪ + 1,000 Ha developed or in progress in France and internationally
▪ 260,000,000 euros of assets
▪ 700,000 m2 built each year
▪ + 20 logistics parks in France and abroad.
- Website : https://www.groupeidec.com/
- Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/groupe_idec/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groupeidec/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/1842659/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/groupeidec
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/webmastergrid
Press contact for Groupe Idec : Isabelle BIGOT – 06.16.06.91.23 – isabelle@calliope- event.com
About Grenoble Angels
Created in 2005, Grenoble Angels is an association affiliated with France Angels, the national federation of business angels. Grenoble Angels brings together a hundred local investors throughout the Isère department, who support and finance start-ups and innovative companies in their seed phase.
With more than 15 years of experience and over 200 projects funded, Grenoble Angels relies on the experience and expertise of its members to support local entrepreneurs and projects.
Grenoble Angels’ philosophy is based on the 3 C’s: the triple contribution of Business Angels in Capital, Competencies and Contacts.
Key figures since 2005:
-More than 1,000 investment opportunities investigated § 250 companies funded
-25 million euros invested by Business Angels
-200 applications received per year
-10 startups supported and funded every year
Follow Grenoble Angels:
Website: https://www.grenoble-angels.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grenobleangels
Twitter: https://twitter.com/grenobleangels
Press contact: Jonathan COLLOMB – délégué général- 04 76 28 25 32 – contact@grenoble- angels.com