09 February 2026 | Interaction | By editor@rbnpress.com
In an interview with Robotics Business News, Kàroly Ludvig, CEO of ABZ Innovation, said the $8.2 million funding round is designed to transition the company from proven deployments to industrial-scale growth. “We’ve demonstrated that heavy-duty drones can reliably handle real agricultural and industrial workloads,” Ludvig said. “This investment allows us to expand manufacturing, advance autonomy and mission software, and build a European-based drone platform that competes globally on safety, reliability, and long-term operational performance — not consumer features.”
What was the driving vision behind ABZ Innovation’s latest $8.2 million funding round?
The main goal behind this funding round was to move ABZ Innovation into its next phase of growth. Over the past few years, we proved that our technology works in real-world conditions and that there is strong demand for heavy-duty drones designed specifically for agriculture and industrial applications. The new investment allows us to scale that foundation in a structured and sustainable way.
From the beginning, our focus has been on solving concrete operational problems rather than building general-purpose drones. Many of the tasks we target — such as precision spraying, spreading, or industrial cleaning — are either dangerous, inefficient, or difficult to scale with traditional methods. We see drones as practical tools that can replace or improve these workflows, not as experimental technology.
The funding round also reflects a broader strategic ambition. The global drone market is highly concentrated, with much of the Western world relying on platforms developed and manufactured by a limited number of players. We believe there is clear room for an EU-based company with a global mindset — one that can compete at a high technical, industrial, and operational level across diverse markets worldwide. This investment gives us the resources to strengthen that position and to build a globally relevant drone platform grounded in strong engineering principles, robust safety standards, and long-term industrial thinking.
How will this investment be used to scale manufacturing, R&D, and global market expansion?
The first and most tangible step is the construction of a new manufacturing facility. We are building a new plant where our production and warehouse space will be approximately four times larger than our current setup. This expansion is essential to support growing demand and to move from a capacity-constrained operation to a scalable, industrial production environment.
On the manufacturing side, the investment allows us to increase output while maintaining consistency in quality and reliability. We are upgrading production processes, improving internal workflows, and strengthening supply-chain resilience to ensure we can deliver at higher volumes without compromising performance.
In R&D, we are continuing to invest in both hardware and software. That means improving payload capacity, endurance, and reliability, while also advancing autonomy and mission control. A key priority is making complex operations easier to plan and execute, especially for professional users who rely on predictable performance rather than experimentation.
Internationally, we are expanding our presence in key markets, primarily Europe and North America, while working with partners in other regions. This involves building stronger distribution, training, and service networks, so customers can deploy and operate our systems with confidence. All three areas are closely connected, and the investment allows us to scale them in parallel.
What differentiates ABZ Innovation’s heavy-duty agricultural and industrial drones from other platforms on the market?
The biggest difference is that our drones are designed from the start for demanding, real work. They are not adapted from consumer or camera platforms. Everything — from the airframe to the propulsion system and the software — is built around carrying heavy payloads and performing repetitive industrial tasks reliably.
Another key factor is our focus on specific use cases. We do not try to cover every possible application. Instead, we concentrate on areas like agricultural spraying and spreading, as well as industrial cleaning and work at height, where drones can deliver clear operational and economic benefits. This allows us to optimize the system as a whole rather than offering a generic platform.
We also take a full-stack approach. Hardware, autonomy, mission planning, and safety features are developed together. This is essential for professional environments, where reliability and predictable behavior matter more than raw specifications.
Finally, being a European manufacturer matters to many of our customers. Supply-chain transparency, regulatory alignment, and data governance are becoming increasingly important, especially for enterprise and institutional users. Our European base gives us an advantage in those discussions.
How do you plan to challenge dominant drone manufacturers and strengthen European competitiveness in the sector?
We are not trying to compete with dominant manufacturers across every segment. Our strategy is to focus on areas where heavy-duty performance, safety, and reliability are more important than scale alone.
By concentrating on agriculture and industrial applications, we can build solutions that outperform general-purpose drones in demanding environments. Customers in these sectors care less about consumer features and more about uptime, serviceability, and long-term operating costs.
Strengthening European competitiveness is also about building industrial capability locally. Developing and manufacturing in Europe gives us better control over quality, compliance, and supply chains, while aligning with broader European goals around technological independence.
We also see regulation as an opportunity rather than a barrier. As drone operations become more regulated, platforms designed with safety and compliance in mind will be better positioned to scale. We work closely with partners and regulators to support practical, responsible adoption.
Can you elaborate on the key use cases — such as spraying, spreading, or industrial cleaning — where ABZ drones deliver the most value?
In agriculture, our main focus is on spraying and spreading. Drones allow for precise application of crop protection products, fertilizers, and biological inputs, reducing waste and environmental impact. They are particularly effective in orchards, vineyards, and uneven terrain, where traditional machinery is limited. They also help address labor shortages and reduce operator exposure to chemicals.
In industrial environments, our drones are commonly used for cleaning and work-at-height tasks. Facade cleaning, surface treatment, and similar jobs often involve safety risks and operational disruption when done manually. Drones can perform these tasks more safely and often more efficiently, with minimal interruption to normal operations.
We also support more specialized applications, such as seeding, shading, and custom industrial solutions. As autonomy and payload technology evolve, we expect the range of viable use cases to continue expanding.
What role do your investor partners (Vsquared Ventures, Day One Capital, Assembly Ventures) play in supporting your strategic goals?
Our investors are active partners rather than passive financial backers. Vsquared Ventures brings strong experience in scaling hardware and robotics companies, particularly when it comes to manufacturing and long-term product strategy.
Day One Capital supports us with regional expertise and experience in building European technology companies with global reach. Assembly Ventures adds a strong international perspective, especially around commercialization and market entry outside Europe.
Together, they provide strategic input, operational experience, and access to networks that are highly relevant as we scale the business.
How has product adoption evolved so far, and what markets show the most promise for future growth?
Adoption has grown steadily, and our drones are now in use in more than 25 countries. Agriculture was the first major driver, but industrial use cases have increased significantly as customers look for safer and more efficient ways to perform high-risk tasks.
The United States has become one of our most promising markets, particularly for both agriculture and industrial services. Europe remains a strong base, supported by regulatory alignment and growing interest in locally manufactured solutions. Beyond these regions, we see opportunities in markets focused on agricultural modernization and infrastructure development.
Looking ahead, what milestones should stakeholders and customers expect in the next 12–24 months?
Over the next 12–24 months, ABZ Innovation will increase its manufacturing capacity and improve production scalability to support growing demand. As part of this growth trajectory, we are targeting a threefold increase in production during 2026, followed by a further doubling in 2027. In parallel, the company plans to release new and updated drone platforms with higher payload capacity and more advanced autonomy, enabling customers to take on more demanding agricultural and industrial tasks.
We will continue to expand the international distribution and service network, while further developing mission autonomy and operational software to make deployments simpler and more reliable. At the same time, ABZ Innovation intends to take a more active role in industry standards and regulatory discussions, contributing to safe and practical large-scale drone operations.
