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Start-up Fund Joensuu invested EUR 100,000 in the growth of Kelluu Oy
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Business Joensuu news
Kelluu Oy, which manufactures miniature autopilot airships to perform many kind of airborne data transfer duties, has received an investment of 100,000 euros from the Start-up Fund Joensuu, which operates through a subsidiary of Business Joensuu. Kelluu Oy's international team is seen to have a strong and versatile ability to take operations toward growth and global markets.
Kelluu Oy has developed a miniature autopilot airship concept. The airship has an extremely long flight time thanks to low-emission hydrogen-powered technology. The Start-up Fund Joensuu invests in the company's growth because it is a service that is innovative, resource-efficient and, due to climate change, applicable to a wide range of needs. The environmental impact is enormous when the emissions are cut dramatically.
For example, with the help of an airship, information on the condition of power lines or forests can be collected so that the customer gets the information he needs quickly and in real time. An airship also has the advantage of energy efficiency and a wide operating radius and time. Due to the extremely long operational hours, airships can collect information in much larger quantities and with much less cost than the current methods of using helicopters or drones. This makes it possible to collect information about, for example, objects behind complex access connections. The airship is also silent, so it is suitable for surveillance and observation without disturbing people or nature.
Kelluu Oy has an international team of six people with versatile expertise. All product development and manufacturing takes place in Kelluu headquarters and the airship factory in Joensuu. The first customer pilots will be in early 2021.
At the end of 2019, Kelluu Oy received significant funding, e.g., from Business Finland. In addition to Start-up Fund Joensuu, Kim Väisänen, Suomen Vaikuttavussijoitus Oy, and Joen Infra Oy also invested in the company's operations.
Photo: Kelluu Oy
Further information:
Kelluu Oy has developed a miniature autopilot airship concept with an extremely long flight time thanks to hydrogen-powered technology. The vessels can be used for different kinds of surveillance and monitoring duties worldwide. Kelluu Oy has an airship factory in Joensuu, eastern Finland.
Start-up Fund Joensuu helps companies in the start-up phase to grow to provide jobs and to internationalise. The Fund obtains its capital from the City of Joensuu and private investors. The fund is managed by Joensuun Startup Kehitys Oy, a subsidiary of Business Joensuu. The fund’s capital is € 2.5 million, and a typical investment is € 50,000–200,000. With Business Joensuu’s Business Accelerator and internationalisation services, the Fund supports its target companies' domestic and international growth. The Fund is an avenue for companies’ second phase funding round. While the Fund is not subject to any field-specific restrictions, its main focus is on companies that specialise in digitalisation, the forest bioeconomy, and materials and innovative technology. Target companies must operate in Joensuu, want to be located in Joensuu or have a connection with the Joensuu region at the operative activity level.
