About Drones sector in France
The Drones sector in France comprises 174 companies, including 49 funded companies having collectively raised $501M in venture capital money and private equity. Out of these, 15 are Series A+ funded.
Drones sector in France has seen 4 acquisitions and 4 IPOs. This represents almost 4.6% of all such companies - which is higher than the 4.0% exit rate of tech companies in general.
This sector includes drones are defined as any powered unmanned aerial heavier-than-air vehicle (manual or autonomous) and excludes unmanned ground, undersea and surface vehicles.
Drones sector is also known as Unmanned Aerial Systems, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Flying Robots or Quadcopter.
Includes manufacturers of consumer, commercial and military, fixed-wing, rotor and tethered unmanned aerial vehicles; providers of software for general operation and control, navigation, autopilot, collision avoidance, fleet management, airspace and flight path mapping; UAV-enabled service providers such as drone/drone pilot marketplaces and rental platforms; drone hardware parts, accessories and peripherals including spare parts, payloads and sensors; drone detection and anti-drone technologies including anti-drone geofencing companies. Excludes unmanned ground vehicles (military, commercial and consumer RC toys), unmanned underwater vehicles; online stores in multi-brand drone retail; drone resellers and distributors; drone-focused online discussion and review forums, and drone-focused social media platforms.
Top Drones Companies in France
There are 174 Drones startups in France which include Parrot, Delair, CerbAir, Donecle, Alta Ares. Out of these, 49 startups are funded, with 15 having secured Series A+ funding.
Over the past 10 years, an average of 5 new companies have been launched annually. Notably, several of these startups have been founded by alumni of Stanford University, Columbia University and HEC Paris.
Here is the list of top Drones startups in France
1. Parrot
Manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles and related software and solutions. It provides drones for professional use. The company develops software for flight control and data processing. It also offers solutions for specific industry applications. The company supports developers with software development kits. It provides support, news, and partnership opportunities.
Key facts about Parrot
- Founded Year: 1994
- Location: Paris (France)
- Stage: Public
- Investors: Sofinnova Partners, Seventure Partners and 4 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Grant (prize money), Nov 01, 2016, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 76/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 2 of 566 Competitors
2. Delair
Delair provides aerial-imagery service using proprietary drones. The company's product line includes UX11, UX5, DT18, and DT26X. The data collected by the drones are processed by professional photogrammetrists who then perform quality assurance and quality control. The company also holds a network of professional experts in specific economic sectors that analyzes the collected aerial data to solve the users' problem. Applications are in the areas of agriculture, forestry, power & utilities, security & defense, mines & quarries, oil & gas, railways & roads, and emergency.
Key facts about Delair
- Founded Year: 2011
- Location: Toulouse (France)
- Stage: Series B
- Total Funding till date: $17.4M
- Investors: Andromede, Intel Capital and 3 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Grant (prize money), Jun 01, 2020, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 67/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 6 of 687 Competitors
3. CerbAir
Cerbair develops civilian drone detection system named "DroneWatch" that uses stereovision technologies and advanced algorithms. DroneWatch is able to detect, track and identify any flying threat in real-time and in any environment. Its automatic warning system can identify the violators through real-time alerts and digital evidence collection. Its solution can be used in the defense sector, Government organizations, Office Public areas, Airports etc. The company has been quoted in several media channels such as Le Point, La Tribune, Silicon, La Croix etc. CerbAir is a subsidiary of Technofounders.
Key facts about CerbAir
4. Donecle
Provider of automated drone-based inspection solutions for aircraft and aerospace components. The company offers a system using autonomous drones and image analysis for defect detection. This technology supports inspections of aircraft, landing gear, and engines. The solution aims to improve inspection speed, consistency, and traceability. It provides digital records and reporting capabilities for various inspection types.
Key facts about Donecle
- Founded Year: 2015
- Location: Labege (France)
- Stage: Series B
- Total Funding till date: $18.7M
- Investors: SWEN Capital Partners, IRDI Capital Investissement and 7 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series B, Apr 16, 2026, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 61/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 21 Competitors
5. Alta Ares
Developer of AI-powered drone detection and recognition solutions. These solutions enhance operational efficiency in military and industrial settings by reducing operator workload during critical missions. The technology uses advanced drone imaging and analytics to detect anomalies in industrial equipment and infrastructure inspections. An Android application provides real-time contact detection, recognition, localization, and tracking without requiring a data link or cloud connection. The company also offers integrated surveillance services using advanced drones for comprehensive monitoring and protection of sensitive sites.
Key facts about Alta Ares
- Founded Year: 2024
- Location: Paris (France)
- Stage: Series A
- Total Funding till date: $59.9M
- Investors: Expansion Venture Capital, Air Street Capital and 9 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series A, Jun 09, 2026, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 57/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 27 of 727 Competitors
Companies founded year-on-year in the Drones sector in France
12 Drones startups in France were founded in 2018 - this is the most number of startups founded in any year in the last 10 years.
- Total Number of Companies
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | - |
2025 | 2 |
2024 | 2 |
2023 | - |
2022 | 6 |
2021 | 5 |
2020 | 7 |
2019 | 11 |
2018 | 12 |
2017 | 6 |
Stage-wise distribution of Drones sector companies in France
Out of the total 174 Drones companies in France, 49 have secured funding. Among them, 15 have reached Series A or higher, and 11 to Series B or beyond.
Founded - 174
Funded - 49
Series A+ - 15
Series B+ - 11
Series C+ - 8
Company Stage | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Founded | 174 |
Funded | 49 |
Series A+ | 15 |
Series B+ | 11 |
Series C+ | 8 |
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Funding Trends in the Drones sector in France
Total funding year-on-year in the Drones sector in France
The Drones sector in France saw a total funding of more than $148M in the last 10 years. The most amount of funding has been in 2026 at more than $78.9M till date.
- Total Funding
Year | Total Funding |
|---|---|
2026 | $78.9M |
2025 | $14.4M |
2024 | $1.26M |
2023 | $11.9M |
2022 | $8.06M |
2021 | $7.44M |
2020 | $12.2M |
2019 | $734K |
2018 | $7.38M |
2017 | $6.16M |
Recent Funding Rounds in Drones in France
In the year 2026, till June 2026, Drones companies in France have raised $71.8M in equity funding across 3 rounds.
In the same period last year (i.e. till May 2025), Drones companies in France had raised $2.25M across 1 round.
So, 2026 has seen a 3093.09% rise in funding in Drones companies in France as compared to 2025.
Here are some recent, important funding rounds in Drones companies in France:
Company | Round Raised | Amount Raised | Funding Date | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Series A | 7450 | Jun 09, 2026 | ||
Series B | 2956 | Apr 16, 2026 | ||
Seed | 7660 | Feb 20, 2026 | - | |
Seed | 3099 | Sep 29, 2025 | ||
Seed | 2831 | May 12, 2025 |
Top Investors in Drones in France
Starburst is the top investor in Drones companies in France based on number of companies invested.
Here are some top investors in Drones companies in France:
Investor | Location | Top Portfolio Companies |
|---|---|---|
Los Angeles (United States) | ||
Sunnyvale (United States) | - | |
Menlo Park (United States) | - | |
Menlo Park (United States) | - | |
Berlin (Germany) | - |
M&A activity in Drones sector in France
In the year 2026, till August 2026, 1 acquisition happened in Drones sector in France. Last year, in 2025, a total of 1 acquisition happened in Drones sector in France.
Here are some recent, important acquisitions in Drones sector in France:
Company | Acquisition Type | Acquisition Date | Acquirers |
|---|---|---|---|
Business Acquisition | Aug 27, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Sep 11, 2025 | ||
Business Acquisition | Apr 20, 2022 | ||
Acqui-Hired | Nov 30, 2015 | ||
Acqui-Hired | Apr 08, 2014 |
Acquisition trends in Drones sector in France
Here are the acquisition trends in Drones sector in France:
- Total Number of Acquisitions
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | 1 |
2025 | 1 |
2024 | - |
2023 | - |
2022 | 1 |
2021 | - |
2020 | - |
2019 | - |
2018 | - |
2017 | - |
IPOs in Drones in France
In the year 2015, till April 2015, 1 IPO happened in Drones sector in France.
Here are some recent, important IPOs in Drones sector in France:
Company | IPO Date | Exchange Symbol |
|---|---|---|
Apr 22, 2015 | Euronext Exchange (Euronext) | |
Jun 28, 2013 | Euronext Exchange (Euronext) | |
Aug 15, 2006 | OTC Markets (OTCMKTS) | |
Jun 27, 2006 | Euronext Exchange (Euronext) |
Colleges which produce the most Drones companies in France
Companies founded by alumni from top colleges in the Drones in France
Most number of Drones startups in France have been founded by alumni from Stanford University, Columbia University and HEC Paris.
College | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Stanford University | 2 |
Columbia University | 1 |
HEC Paris | 1 |
INSEAD | 1 |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 1 |
Total funding in Drones companies founded by alumni from top colleges in France
In the last 10 years, HEC Paris graduates' Drones companies in France have raised the most funding among top colleges. Columbia University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni are second.
College | Total Funding |
|---|---|
HEC Paris | $19.3M |
Columbia University | $7.89M |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $7.89M |
Stanford University | $2.5M |
INSEAD | - |
Top News in Drones in France
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Dronavia partners with Sculpteo to additively manufacture drone componentsTCT Magazine•Jun 24, 2025•Sculpteo, Dronavia
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Garuda Aerospace Offers Entry Into Growing Indian Drone Market: Partners with Manufacturers in US, Canada, Israel and EuropeGaruda Aerospace•Dec 09, 2024•Garuda Aerospace, Titan Innovation, Easy Aerial, Azur Drones and 2 others
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Elistair and Rheinmetall Canada Partner on Unmanned ISR Solution for Military UsersUAS Vision•Jan 17, 2024•Elistair, Rheinmetall
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