Colugo Systems Raises $8.5M to Expand Electric Drone Tech

Colugo Systems Raises $8.5M to Expand Electric Drone Tech

By Lucy Unicorn 06 June 2025
A woman in a military uniform poses in front of the Israeli flag, smiling confidently.

Merav Kirshner, Colugo Systems CEO

Colugo Systems, an Israeli developer of electric drones used by the military and in civilian operations, has raised $8.5 million in its first funding round, led by Ayalon Insurance and Finance. The round values the company at $65 million before the investment.

The funding marks a shift for Colugo, which has until now operated without venture capital, relying primarily on product sales. Founded in 2018, the company has quietly built and deployed its aircraft with the Israel Defense Forces and other security agencies. Its proprietary drones are also seeing early adoption in the civilian sector, especially in the growing field of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

The company’s CEO is Meirav Kirshner, a retired IDF brigadier general and former head of its Personnel Directorate. Its CTO, Amit Regev, is a former drone squadron pilot who helped design the company’s patented electric aircraft and wing systems.

Colugo’s core innovation is what it calls Adaptive Wing Technology, a patented design that allows its aircraft to remain stable and operational in windy or adverse conditions, a longstanding challenge in the drone industry. The company says its technology combines the flexibility of helicopter-style takeoffs with the energy efficiency of fixed-wing flight.

Colugo generated $4 million in revenue in 2024 and says its aircraft are currently used in a range of applications including surveillance, logistics, emergency response, and delivery. The company was recently selected by government entities to develop a logistics drone based on its core platform.

“This funding will help us scale our R&D and accelerate commercial pilots,” said Kirshner. “It’s an opportunity to expand from security-focused missions into broader markets where our technology has strong advantages.”

Source: CTech

Author

Lucy, the cute female unicorn of Lucidity Insights, waving and standing in front of a purple background.

Lucy is a young unicorn passionate about responsible business practices, from Sustainability and ESG performance management to deep-dive investigations of the broad socio-political and macro-economic implications of various government and business strategies. Lucy has a knack for research, data analytics, and understanding the implications of new and disruptive technologies. Prior to becoming a tech news reporter, Lucy spent a few years working for the United Nations, researching and evaluating the socio-economic impact of various programs and the adoption of technological innovations. Lucy studied integrated engineering, and worked on converting her fuel-powered car into an electric vehicle as her final project for graduation. Lucy can still be seen driving her zero-emissions vehicle in and around Dubai, where she grew up. Lucy speaks English and Arabic, and completed her studies in Canada, where she also minored in magic powered technological solutions. Lucy specializes in sustainable development, climate tech, ESG, social impact startups, venture capital, macroeconomics and geopolitics.

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