VÆRIDION raises €30 million to develop electric regional aircraft
The Munich startup is targeting commercial service in 2030 for its nine-seat Microliner and says it has been selected for a €94.5 million EU grant.
Munich-based aerospace startup VÆRIDION said it has secured €30 million in Series A2 financing to support development of the first prototype of its electric Microliner aircraft. The round brings its funding to approximately €60 million.
SHIFT Invest, a Netherlands-based venture capital investor, co-led the round with Invest-NL, the Dutch national investment institution. Existing backers World Fund, Project A and Vsquared Ventures also participated.
The battery-powered aircraft is designed for nine passengers and a range of up to 400km, with passenger and cargo services envisaged. VÆRIDION aims to begin commercial operations in 2030 and plans to expand the technology for flights across Europe.
The company also said the EU had selected it for a €94.5 million Innovation Fund grant to support development of the Microliner for industrial-scale production. It says the aircraft would be quieter than conventional planes, allowing it to serve smaller airfields and underserved areas.
Founder and chief executive Ivor van Dartel said propulsion and battery technology was undergoing testing at the company's Oberpfaffenhofen facility. He said the equity financing would enable construction of its first conforming aircraft. Van Dartel and fellow former Airbus manager Dr Sebastian Seemann founded VÆRIDION in 2021.
