Zuri funding news – Prague-based Zuri has Secured €3 Million in Funding

The investment has already been received and registered in the Commercial Register, marking a significant milestone in it’s mission to redefine Advanced Regional Air Mobility with sustainable, innovative flight solutions.

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Michal Illich, Founder of Zuri said, “This remarkable level of support from our investors reinforces Zuri’s mission and momentum, With the funds raised, we can now confidently accelerate the next stage of our development - building our next-generation technology demonstrator, TD 2.0.”

Next-Generation Technology Demonstrator, TD 2.0

It’s next-generation technology demonstrator represents a significant leap forward in hybrid VTOL aircraft design. Building on the success of its first-generation, 11-meter demonstrator, which has already completed flight testing, TD 2.0 will deliver groundbreaking advancements in three key areas:

Hybrid Powertrain: Integrating a hybrid propulsion system combining the best of electric and internal combustion technologies to deliver extended range, operational flexibility, and reduced environmental impact.

Full Flight Mode Capability: It’s large-scale demonstrator will operate in all flight modes — vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), transition, and cruise — thanks to the incorporation of tiltrotors. (note: Zuri has successfully tested these modes in multiple subscale models.)

Refined Zuri 2.0 Design: The new Zuri 2.0 aircraft design, introduces advanced tiltrotors and a reengineered tail section, significantly improving aerodynamic efficiency, stability, and overall performance.

Illich said, “With TD 2.0, we’re not just making incremental improvements — we’re redefining what’s possible in VTOL mobility, This phase of development will demonstrate the potential of our hybrid concept, bringing us one step closer to safe, efficient, sustainable, and on-demand mid-range travel.”

The Investors

This round was led by Jan Barta, General Partner of Pale Fire Capital (PFC), a leading PE firm with a diverse portfolio spanning technology, energy, and global markets. PFC has been a longstanding supporter of initiatives focused on education, freedom, and democracy, aligning closely with it’s mission to redefine sustainable and innovative Regional Air Mobility.

Barta said, “I have been watching Michal’s level of persistence for the last several years. Advancing a large VTOL project and being capital constrained the whole time was an immense challenge and Michal never gave up. Those are true qualities of real founders. This funding will now allow Zuri to scale up quickly and one can say, actually in the literal sense, the sky is truly the limit here.”

Pale Fire Capital was it’s very first investor back in 2018, so its General Partner’s follow-up investment underscores the long-term trust in and support for Zuri’s vision of advancing hybrid aviation.

In addition to Barta’s investment, this round included contributions from notable angel investors, such as Boris Renski (U.S., founder of FreedomFi and co-founder of Mirantis), Matej Turek’s 10X fund, and a group of investors from Europe and the U.S., further validating it’s global appeal and market potential.

About Zuri

Zuri and they are building VTOL aircraft (Vertical takeoff and landing). At Zuri, thir goal is to change the way people experience on-demand, door-to-door mid-range flights.