Cloudline, South African Aerospace Startup, Secures $6 Million Funding

South African aerospace innovator, Cloudline, has successfully raised $6 million in its latest funding round, positioning itself to pioneer the realm of carbon emissions-free autonomous flights on a global scale.

Among the prominent investors in Cloudline's seed funding is Schmidt Futures, the philanthropic venture established by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Wendy Schmidt.

Additionally, significant contributions have come from notable pan-African funds, including Raba Partnership, Verod-Kepple Africa Ventures, 4Di, and various other venture firms.

The genesis of Cloudline traces back six years when its founder and CEO, Spencer Horne, envisioned crafting a transportation system.

This system would link remote communities to the worldwide supply chain by leveraging the capabilities of lightweight uncrewed aerial vehicles for delivering sizable payloads.

Horne's inspiration for this ambitious endeavor was deeply rooted in childhood memories.

Growing up near a South African railway crossing fueled his passion for transportation technology, especially aviation.

Although Horne faced hurdles pursuing aeronautical studies in the U.S., as a Harvard graduate, his commitment led him back to Africa to pioneer advancements in the sector.

Before launching Cloudline, Horne invested two years at McKinsey, broadening his professional network and gaining profound insights into the multifaceted challenges confronting African communities.

His experiences, particularly in East African regions like Kenya and Uganda, illuminated the profound influence of infrastructure on the quality of life.

The year 2016 marked a transformative phase as pioneers like Zipline and Matternet began exploring drone delivery services targeting rural African markets.

Recognizing a niche, Horne established Cloudline in 2019, amalgamating technology, transportation, and community-centric outcomes.

Speaking with TechCrunch, Horne expressed his curiosity about the limitations of existing drone operations, which primarily focused on singular medical deliveries.

He believed in drones' potential to facilitate broader economic opportunities for Africans, transcending conventional infrastructure barriers.

Cloudline distinguishes itself by emphasizing hardware in a relatively untapped market.

While potential competition looms from drone operators diversifying into airships, Horne emphasizes Cloudline's unparalleled market positioning due to its early-mover advantage.

Today, the six-year-old startup garners significant attention, especially from governmental entities seeking platforms for diverse payload capacities, particularly multi-sensor payloads for aerial surveillance.

Cloudline's innovative approach integrates visual, infrared, lidar, and other sensory data in unified flights, presenting a holistic data perspective.

This capability proves invaluable for utilities managing linear infrastructure like power lines, pipelines, railways, and roads, facilitating enhanced maintenance and security measures.

Tage Kene-Okafor / TechCrunch