Copenhagen-based aerospace startup Acodyne has closed a €2.5 million pre-seed round to develop a family of its autonomous electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) cargo aircraft designed to replace crewed helicopters in high-urgency logistics missions.
The round was jointly led by Swedish defense venture firm Gungnir Capital and Danish investor PSV Hafnium, with participation from Denmark's Export and Investment Fund (EIFO), SAP9 Group, and GreenUP IV Invest.
Founded by entrepreneurs and aerospace specialists including Chief Executive Officer Mads Schnack and Chief Commercial Officer Jasmina Pless, Acodyne is developing an unmanned eVTOL aircraft designed to transport cargo without a pilot onboard. The company aims to combine the operational flexibility of a helicopter with the speed and efficiency of a fixed-wing aircraft.
Acodyne is developing the E100 prototype, its first model, with initial flight tests planned before the end of 2026. The funding supports prototype development and flight testing in real mission environments.
The aircraft are designed to carry payloads of 220 to 1,100 lb (100 to 450 kg) at a cruise speed of 280 mph (450 km/h), with a range of up to 310 miles (500 km) that extends to 620 miles (1,000 km) in hybrid configurations. A modular airframe with detachable wings allows the complete system to fit inside a standard 20-foot shipping container, said the company.
"The momentum behind autonomous aviation has never been stronger," Schnack said in a statement announcing the funding round. He cited increasing interest from defense organizations, logistics providers, and offshore operators exploring alternatives to conventional transportation methods.
Investors backing the company highlighted the growing demand for autonomous transportation systems in Europe. In a statement, Gungnir Capital described Acodyne's concept as a new category of heavy-lift logistics aircraft capable of addressing missions that currently rely on crewed helicopters.
The investor noted that defense and dual-use technologies have become a growing area of focus amid increasing attention to European security and supply-chain resilience.
Acodyne remains in the early stages of development, with its immediate focus centered on prototype testing and technical validation. The company has not disclosed a timeline for commercial deployment."
