Financing the Next Mobility Revolution

Over the past 1.5 years of assuming the CFO position on an interim basis, my desk was a place where commercial projects, partnerships, and other endeavors met financial feasibility, scrutiny, and fundraising. Given our upcoming market launch in Paris in 2024, this combination is a perfect match. That’s why I’m also retaining my duties as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO).

Volocopter plans to generate revenue from mid-2024 onwards, by operating routes in Paris, Rome, Singapore, and NEOM. Our launch product, the fully electric 2-seater VoloCity, will be certified to the highest safety standards in aviation, and is currently undergoing all the necessary approvals and flight tests with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Since joining Volocopter in 2018, my passion has been to identify and drive market opportunities, and to link them to strategic partnerships and financial investments. As an economist and financier by trade, I’ve always felt very comfortable in both commercial and finance functions. While working in Corporate Finance at the Mercedes-Benz Group for more than a decade, I loved pushing forward transactions that were closely linked to collaborations and joint ventures, specifically within the high-tech segment. ?

At Volocopter I quickly learned to operationalize and execute topics at a very fast pace, with a passionate team, always keeping costs at a minimum, and with a clear vision in mind: to build electric air taxis and offer a new form of sustainable transportation in cities across the world. My proudest moment with regard to this was when we built the very first prototype air taxi ecosystem in Singapore back in 2019. This was the catalyst that convinced future shareholders to commit to our market entry in Asia. And we did it all with a very small budget and very few people on the ground.?

Volocopter’s ecosystem and partnership approach is the home-run strategy that will bring urban air mobility to megacities around the globe. We are building game-changing electric air taxis, and working with innovative startups and established companies, as well as with regulators and cities to define what is needed to bring this new form of mobility to life. Our ecosystem approach has resulted in many strategic partners coming aboard. Partners like Mercedes-Benz AG , NEOM , Mundys , Japan Airlines , 德铁信可 , 吉利控股集团 , and SITA , who all turned into investors. Not just because it makes a lot of sense, but also because they saw an opportunity to be part of a real revolution that’s coming soon. ?

We are in a turbulent market environment to say the least. With geopolitical and pandemic-related challenges, inflation hitting record highs not just in the Eurozone, rising interest rates and banking systems yet again at a stretch, challenges abound. But, I see just as many opportunities. After all, massive amounts of capital are available, but distribution is focused on a few champions who are leading their respective market segments.

We are moving full steam ahead by continuing to fundraise for our ongoing Series E financing round as we see great traction. Over the past six months alone, we secured more than EUR 200 million with investors like NEOM, Sumitomo, SEKISUI CHEMICAL , and SITA. (Yes, I might be biased, but) Volocopter is a trophy investment, being the first electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) company to launch in Europe.

I couldn’t have come this far at Volocopter without the great support of our Senior Leadership Team, the Advisory Board, and our shareholders. And, last but not least, the fantastic team I’ve been privileged to guide, grow, and lead – and celebrate these successes with.

This is the ride of a lifetime and I’m so excited to stay at the wheel – wearing the two hats of CFO and CCO!