Aust drone startup acquires Brazilian mapping software company

Australian drone technology startup Aerologix is accelerating its growth plans with a $2 million capital raise and the strategic acquisition of Brazilian mapping software company Mappa.

Founded in 2019 by ex-airline pilot Tom Caska (CEO) and former technology consultant Rakesh Routhu (COO), Aerologix matches drone operators with clients that need aerial imaging. Dubbed ‘Uber for drones’, the company has signed up more than 29,000 drone pilots since it was started.

Having launched in New Zealand last year, and now focusing on North and South America, Aerologix recently acquired Mappa — a cutting-edge mapping technology company that turns drone data into high-resolution maps. Mappa has a strong presence in South America and, under Aerologix’s management, will continue to operate as usual servicing its roughly 185 customers while its technology will also be incorporated into Aerologix’s offering under AerologixMaps.

Available globally, AerologixMaps seamlessly integrates into the Aerologix Drone Ecosystem, complementing the AerologixFly app. This integration provides pilots with access to patented Aeropath software, offering an automated flight solution specifically designed for inspecting vertical asset structures through the pilot app.

“A simple, affordable way of making maps is a real value-add for our customers and we already have more than 175 pilots on the waitlist,” Caska said. “AerologixMaps also allows us to establish drone pilot networks abroad without having to set up offices in every country. When and if we do set up our platform of drone pilot networks in international markets, we will have the correct data to do so.”

“Mappa was the missing piece in our plan to build a comprehensive global drone ecosystem,” Routhu added. “This acquisition not only supercharges our growth in South and North America but also provides a platform for a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, along with additional revenue streams derived from monetising our extensive drone pilot network.”

Aerologix’s technology supports 135 different drone types, catering to diverse industries including renewable energy, construction, real estate and infrastructure. The company is one of a handful of drone companies onboarded into the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) digital sky platform, meaning both its Aerologix iOS and Android apps ingest CASA weather updates, location-based information and maps that show where pilots can and can’t fly.

Image caption: Aerologix co-founders Rakesh Routhu and Tom Caska.