A Munich-headquartered aerospace company focused on decarbonizing short-haul air travel has closed a €30 million funding round to advance its electric aircraft programme. VÆRIDION's vision centres on delivering affordable, emissions-free regional flights as a standard transportation option across Europe.
The company is engineering a nine-passenger electric aircraft powered entirely by battery technology, capable of covering distances up to 400 kilometres while transporting both passengers and freight. Drawing inspiration from the automotive sector's transition to electric vehicles, VÆRIDION aims to replicate this shift within aviation. The company was established in 2021 by Ivor van Dartel and Dr Sebastian Seemann, both veterans from Airbus.
The aircraft, known as the Microliner, incorporates proprietary technology and is planned to scale progressively to enable flights across the European continent. Commercial operations are targeted for 2030. Beyond environmental benefits, the aircraft produces reduced noise levels compared to conventional aircraft, positioning it as an ideal fit for regional airfields and underserved communities seeking air connectivity.
The Series A2 round was anchored by SHIFT Invest, a venture capital firm based in the Netherlands, alongside Invest-NL, the country's state investment body. Existing backers World Fund, Project A and Vsquared Ventures also participated. To date, VÆRIDION has accumulated approximately €60 million in total funding, with the latest capital earmarked for constructing the company's initial prototype aircraft.
In parallel, the European Union has awarded VÆRIDION a €94.5 million grant through its Innovation Fund, supporting the development and scaling of Microliner manufacturing to industrial production levels.
Over the past year, we have turned the Microliner from a validated design into hardware, with exceptional capital efficiency. Our propulsion and battery technology is now being tested at our own facility in Oberpfaffenhofen. This equity round enables us to build our first conforming aircraft.
Ivor van Dartel, founder and CEO of VÆRIDION
Source: Tech.eu
