#Interview
Founded in 2021, Odonata is now all about unmanned logistics after a major pivot. The team from Bavaria is developing an autonomous dual-use long-range drone called Pantala. The first hover test was recently carried out successfully.
The Munich company Odonatawhich was founded in 2021 by Daniel Etter, John Griesbacher, Dominik Weigl and Dennis Furchheim, is developing Pantala, an autonomous long-range drone (for civil and military operations). “This allows you to think about logistics in a completely new way: faster, more direct and more independent. This is particularly relevant for time-critical freight to remote locations,” says founder Furchheim.
Pantala’s first hover test has already been successful. “When presentations and tables first become CAD and then a prototype that finally flies, then that’s moving,” says Furchheim.
In an interview with deutsche-startups.de, the Odonata maker speaks in detail about the state of affairs at his startup.
How would you like your grandmother Odonata explain?
We are building an aircraft that can take off and land vertically like a helicopter, but flies in the air like an airplane, only without a pilot and fully autonomously from A to B. This allows us to think about logistics in a completely new way: faster, more direct and more independent. This is particularly relevant for time-critical freight to remote locations, in regions with weak infrastructure or where roads are too slow due to traffic and helicopters would be too expensive.
Was this your concept from the beginning?
No, we originally wanted to develop a passenger-carrying eVTOL with hybrid hydrogen propulsion. But we then consciously made a pivot because we recognized early on that unmanned logistics is much more realistic, less capital-intensive and quicker to bring to market. The advantage was that we were able to adopt the technology from the first eVTOL approaches into the much smaller drone – this saved time and resources.
How has OdonataUn developed since its founding?
We have evolved from a vision to a true technology startup. The initial concepts have become a full-scale prototype with almost 8m of wingspan. The crucial difference is: We no longer just talk about our vision, we are already building it.
What was the highlight for you recently?
Clearly the first successful hover test of our PANTALA drone prototype. That was a special moment because it became clear that intensive development work had resulted in a real flying system. When presentations and tables first become CAD and then a prototype that finally flies, then that’s moving.
Please take a look back: What has really gone wrong since the company was founded?
We had to learn that good technology alone is not enough in the DeepTech segment. Timing, capital market and focus are at least as important. The biggest turning point was the realization that our original approach was too capital intensive for the market environment. Especially when big players in the field give up, this is not helpful for raising your own capital – even if your own concept has completely different technologies and markets. We didn’t see this coming and underestimated the consequences.
And where have you done everything right so far?
We didn’t cling to our first idea. Instead, we honestly looked at the market, feasibility and need and drew the right conclusions from them. We tried to transfer as many findings and technologies as possible from the initial development focus on the human-carrying eVTOL to our current project – this saved time and costs and we have already gone through the learning curve on many topics.
What general tip would you give other founders?
Don’t fall in love with your first solution, fall in love with the problem you want to solve. And don’t confuse perseverance with stubbornness.
Where is Odonata? in a year?
In a year we want to be much closer to operational application. The certification of aircraft is complex, but we are confident that after further flight tests we will be able to start the first pilot projects with customers. Our goal is clear: to make real use of Pantala.
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