Photo - Thrace Aerial Tech
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Thrace Aerial Tech

VTOL Drones and SaaS platform

Bulgaria
Market: Consulting, Farming, Drones, Defense/Military tech
Stage of the project: Prototype or product is ready

Date of last change: 22.04.2025
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Idea

We design and produce multi-role VTOL drones (vertical takeoff and landing) for agriculture, defense, and rescue missions. Our UAVs feature autonomous flight modes, integrated SaaS analytics, and flexible deployment without runways. Clients gain real-time data insights and improved operational efficiency.

Current Status

We have fully tested autonomous VTOL drone prototypes (TRL 5/6) with successful flight missions and preliminary demonstrations for government agencies (including an internal presentation to the Ministry of Interior in Sofia). Our next milestone is transitioning from plastic to carbon-fiber fuselages, finalizing the ground control station, and scaling initial pilot projects.

Market

Our main clients include large farms needing advanced crop and field monitoring, government agencies for border and defense tasks, and search-and-rescue teams working in remote or challenging terrains. We focus on these sectors due to their high-value missions and immediate need for efficient UAV solutions.

Problem or Opportunity

Almost every area of drone application is unique and requires models specifically tailored to the particular field. Our multi-modal unmanned platform can be adapted for use across various industries.

SaaS platform:
Based on drone-collected data using multispectral cameras, our platform enables the analysis of farmland to forecast potential crop yields and assess the financial viability of agricultural enterprises.

Solution (product or service)

Our solution addresses the pressing needs of modern UAV applications across agriculture, defense, and emergency response. By providing VTOL drones that require no runway and an integrated analytics platform, we streamline operations for large-scale field monitoring, border surveillance, and rapid rescue missions. This unified approach reduces logistical barriers and maximizes real-time data insights, ensuring faster, more effective decision-making for end users.

Competitors

Main rivals include DJI (short-range multicopters) and fixed-wing or hybrid VTOL brands like senseFly eBee and WingtraOne. While they have market presence, they often lack an integrated SaaS platform or easy vertical launch. Our robust AI-driven software and multi-mission VTOL design offer a compelling alternative.

Advantages or differentiators

Our VTOL drones combine a fully in-house approach—custom aerodynamics, proprietary battery systems, and AI-driven flight software—with a user-friendly SaaS platform. Unlike many competitors, we deliver both robust VTOL hardware and real-time data analytics in one ecosystem, enabling flexible deployment (no runway required), extended endurance, and advanced mission planning for multiple sectors.

Finance

Revenue Streams
We operate a dual model combining hardware sales and recurring SaaS fees. Each VTOL drone sells for approximately €9,840, delivering around 34% gross margin. Meanwhile, our cloud analytics platform is offered at ~€300/month per drone, providing high-margin recurring revenue. Early projections include an initial batch of 30 drones in Year 1 (~€295k hardware revenue) plus ~€9k/month from SaaS subscriptions.

Cost Structure
Per-drone costs (~€6,500) primarily arise from electronics (flight controller, motors, sensors), composite materials (carbon body), and assembly labor. Overhead includes certification, R&D, and operational expenses. As volume scales, bulk component pricing and streamlined assembly further improve margins. The SaaS component has minimal incremental cost, driving strong profitability as the user base expands.

Business model

We sell hardware (VTOL drones) plus a SaaS subscription for data analytics, mapping, and AI-based insights. This hybrid approach delivers upfront revenue from drone sales and recurring income from monthly software fees. By offering an end-to-end ecosystem, we ensure stable, scalable revenue streams.

Money will be spent on

We plan to allocate funds across four key areas:
R&D (30%) – finalizing carbon-fiber body design and enhancing autonomy/AI algorithms.
Production (40%) – building an initial batch of 30 drones (materials, assembly, QA).
Marketing & Sales (15%) – demo flights, trade shows, partner outreach.
Operations & Certification (15%) – securing regulatory approvals, overhead, and pilot training.

This distribution allows us to scale quickly and meet the growing demand for VTOL solutions.

Offer for investor

In return for an investment of €200,000, we propose a 25% equity stake in our company, with guaranteed annual dividend distribution. Key provisions include a Right of First Refusal (ROFR) and an option for the founder to buy out the investor’s stake after 36 months at fair market valuation. This setup ensures both near-term liquidity potential through dividends and long-term upside as we expand our VTOL drone and SaaS business.

Team or Management

Incubation/Acceleration programs accomplishment

F6s at Sofia Tech Park

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Photo 1 - VTOL Drones and SaaS platform

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Idea
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Market
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Solution (product or service)
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Advantages or differentiators
Finance
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Business model
Money will be spent on
Offer for investor
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Incubation/Acceleration programs accomplishment
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