INVOLI

Cover Block

PUBLIC

Attribute	Value
Name	INVOLI
Tagline	Real-time low-altitude air traffic surveillance and data services for safe drone operations.
Headquarters	Lausanne, Switzerland
Founded	2017
Stage	Seed
Business Model	Hardware + Software
Industry	Defense / Govtech
Technology	Hardware
Geography	Western Europe
Growth Profile	Venture Scale
Founding Team	Co-Founders (2)
Funding Label	Undisclosed (total disclosed ~$500,000)

Links

PUBLIC

• Website: https://www.involi.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/involi

Executive Summary

PUBLIC INVOLI builds the physical sensor network and data layer required to safely integrate drones into low-altitude airspace, a foundational challenge for the commercial drone and urban air mobility sectors [GovTech, April 2024]. Founded in 2017 in Lausanne, the company addresses a critical gap in air traffic awareness by deploying proprietary ground receivers that detect manned aircraft signals, feeding this real-time data into its INVOLI.live platform and APIs for drone operators and uncrewed traffic management (UTM) systems [involi.com]. Its core differentiation is a hardware-enabled wedge, establishing a physical network of over 550 receivers across major U.S. cities under its VistaTrack service, which it claims is the world's largest BVLOS drone surveillance network [suasnews.com, June 2025].

The founding team is led by Emanuele Lubrano, CEO and an inventor on company patents, with co-founder Cristina Mihalachioiu handling legal and communications [Crunchbase]. The company's early financial backing includes a $500,000 seed round [agefi.com], and its business model combines the sale of professional receivers with subscription-based data services for surveillance coverage. A key near-term catalyst is its participation in the GENIUS NY accelerator, aimed at deepening its U.S. operational roots and commercial partnerships [GENIUS NY]. Over the next 12-18 months, the primary metrics to watch are the expansion of its paid surveillance service footprint beyond its initial Dallas deployment and the conversion of its receiver network into recurring enterprise or UTM-provider contracts.

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Core product claims and founding team are confirmed by company and third-party sources; specific commercial traction and detailed funding history lack multi-source corroboration.

Taxonomy Snapshot

Axis	Classification
Stage	Seed
Business Model	Hardware + Software
Industry / Vertical	Defense / Govtech
Technology Type	Hardware
Geography	Western Europe
Growth Profile	Venture Scale
Founding Team	Co-Founders (2)
Funding	Undisclosed (total disclosed ~$500,000)

Company Overview

PUBLIC

INVOLI SA was founded in 2017 in Lausanne, Switzerland, to address a specific gap in the emerging drone economy: the lack of real-time, low-altitude air traffic data [Crunchbase]. The company's stated mission is to make the sky safe and efficient for drones by providing the surveillance infrastructure that manned aviation has long relied upon [Solar Impulse Foundation]. Its legal structure is a Swiss société anonyme (SA), with a now-dissolved UK limited company registered in 2020 appearing to have been a brief operational foothold [find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk].

The founding team is led by Emanuele Lubrano, identified as CEO and Co-Founder, who studied at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne [Crunchbase]. Co-Founder Cristina Mihalachioiu handles Legal & Communication, with a professional background in banking, finance, and M&A law [LinkedIn]. Both are listed as inventors on patents assigned to the company [patents.justia.com]. Public references to a third co-founder, Manuel Nappo, as CEO are not corroborated by primary corporate sources and conflict with his independent professional profile [DroneTalks, 2023][LinkedIn].

Key operational milestones trace a path from Swiss roots to U.S. expansion. The company participated in the GENIUS NY accelerator program, Cohort 8, using the support to build strategic connections and operational momentum in Syracuse, New York [GENIUS NY]. A significant commercial deployment followed in April 2024 with the launch of a Low Altitude Surveillance Supplemental Data Service (SDS) covering over 10,000 square kilometers of Dallas, Texas, described as a first-of-its-kind offering [GovTech, April 2024][unmannedairspace.info]. This service is powered by the company's proprietary network of ground receivers and is accessible via its INVOLI.live web platform. The network, branded VistaTrack, has since expanded to over 550 active receivers across major U.S. metropolitan areas including New York City, San Francisco, and Orlando [suasnews.com, June 2025].

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Core founding details and entity status are confirmed, but conflicting founder information and a lack of detailed funding announcements limit full verification.

Product and Technology

MIXED INVOLI's core proposition is straightforward: drones cannot avoid what they cannot see. The company builds a hardware and software system designed to give operators real-time awareness of low-altitude manned air traffic, a critical gap for safe beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations [GovTech, April 2024]. This is not a theoretical platform; the company's public deployments and product descriptions show a tangible, if early-stage, implementation of this idea.

The system is built on a network of proprietary ground receivers. These devices, like the Swiss-made G-1090 receiver, detect signals from manned aircraft including ADS-B, UAT, and in some areas, MLAT tracking of Mode S and Mode A/C transponders [involi.com]. This raw surveillance data feeds into INVOLI's software layer. The primary user-facing product is INVOLI.live, a web-based platform that visualizes this air traffic, showing aircraft identification, position, altitude, speed, and track [GovTech, April 2024]. The platform also allows users to set geofenced alerts for aircraft entering specific zones. For integration into broader uncrewed traffic management (UTM) ecosystems, INVOLI offers the same data stream via a REST API, enabling dashboards, ground control software, or third-party UTM systems to consume the surveillance feed [unmannedairspace.info].

The most concrete evidence of the product's market fit is its deployment as a Supplemental Data Service (SDS). In Dallas, Texas, INVOLI has established what it calls the world's first Low Altitude Surveillance SDS, covering over 10,000 square kilometers [globalairspaceradar.com]. The INVOLI.live service for this region is offered free of charge, a strategic move to demonstrate utility and gather usage data. The company has since expanded this network concept under the brand VistaTrack, which it describes as the world's largest BVLOS drone surveillance network, with over 550 receivers active in major U.S. metropolitan areas including New York City, San Francisco, Orlando, and Charlotte [suasnews.com, June 2025]. The stated goal is to mitigate collision risks, thereby improving the chances for drone operators to receive BVLOS flight authorizations and approved SORA (Specific Operations Risk Assessment) documents [airport-suppliers.com].

Data Accuracy: GREEN -- Product claims and deployment details are consistently reported across multiple independent trade publications (GovTech, SUAS News, Unmanned Airspace) and are detailed on the company's own website.

Market Research

PUBLIC The viability of drone-based services hinges on the creation of a safe, shared, and digitally managed low-altitude airspace, a regulatory and technological challenge that has become a primary bottleneck for the industry's growth.

Third-party market sizing for low-altitude surveillance or supplemental data services (SDS) is scarce, but the broader uncrewed traffic management (UTM) and urban air mobility (UAM) markets provide a relevant analog. A 2023 report from MarketsandMarkets projected the global UTM market to grow from $1.6 billion to $5.9 billion by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate of 20.5% [MarketsandMarkets, 2023]. This growth is predicated on the safe integration of drones into national airspace systems, a process that requires the type of real-time traffic awareness INVOLI provides. The company's specific wedge, low-altitude surveillance data, can be seen as a critical enabling layer within this larger UTM infrastructure market.

Demand is driven by several converging tailwinds. The commercial drone sector continues to expand, with applications in logistics, infrastructure inspection, agriculture, and public safety pushing for more complex, beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations. Regulatory bodies, including the FAA in the U.S. and EASA in Europe, are actively developing frameworks like U-Space to enable these operations, mandating or strongly encouraging the use of surveillance and traffic information services. Furthermore, the nascent urban air mobility sector, involving passenger-carrying air taxis, is creating a forward-looking demand for high-fidelity, low-latency air traffic data to ensure safety in dense urban environments.

Key adjacent markets include traditional air traffic control systems and aerospace defense, which operate at higher altitudes with different technological requirements. Substitute markets are less about competing technologies and more about competing operational paradigms, such as relying on visual observers or geofencing instead of real-time electronic surveillance. The primary macro force is regulatory; the pace of BVLOS approvals and the specific technical standards mandated by aviation authorities will directly dictate the adoption curve for SDS providers like INVOLI.

Global UTM Market 2023 | 1.6 | $B
Global UTM Market 2030 | 5.9 | $B

The projected growth of the overarching UTM market underscores the significant, system-level investment flowing into the infrastructure needed to unlock drone economies. INVOLI's focus on a foundational data layer positions it within this high-growth envelope, though its ultimate share will depend on execution against established competitors.

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Market sizing is drawn from a single third-party analyst report for an analogous, broader market. Demand drivers are corroborated by multiple industry and regulatory sources.

Competitive Landscape

MIXED INVOLI positions itself as a hardware-enabled data provider, a niche that separates it from pure software UTM platforms and legacy aviation hardware giants.

Company	Positioning	Stage / Funding	Notable Differentiator	Source
INVOLI	Hardware + software provider of low-altitude surveillance data and receivers for UTM integration.	Seed (~$500k, 2018) [agefi.com]	Proprietary ground receiver network (VistaTrack) providing real-time, multi-protocol surveillance as a service.	[involi.com]
AirMap	Software platform for UTM services, digital airspace authorization, and fleet management.	Series B ($42M, 2020) [Crunchbase]	Established regulatory relationships and a comprehensive software suite for airspace management.	[Crunchbase]
uAvionix	Avionics hardware manufacturer for drones and manned aircraft, focusing on ADS-B and transponder systems.	Venture (total disclosed $25.5M) [Crunchbase]	Deep expertise in certified aviation hardware and a broad product portfolio for both drones and general aviation.	[Crunchbase]
Altitude Angel	UTM technology provider offering airspace management and conflict resolution services.	Venture (total disclosed $21.2M) [Crunchbase]	Strong focus on automated conflict resolution and strategic partnerships with ANSPs (Air Navigation Service Providers).	[Crunchbase]
ANRA Technologies	Integrated UTM and mission management software for enterprise and government drone operations.	Series A ($6.5M, 2021) [Crunchbase]	End-to-end mission control software with experience in large-scale government contracts.	[Crunchbase]

The competitive map breaks into three primary segments. First, the pure-play UTM software platforms like AirMap, Unifly, and Altitude Angel focus on airspace management, digital flight authorization, and software-based deconfliction. Their primary competition with INVOLI is for integration slots within a UTM stack, not a direct product overlap. Second, the hardware-focused aviation electronics companies, led by uAvionix, manufacture the physical transponders and receivers that go on aircraft. INVOLI competes here as a provider of ground-based reception infrastructure, though its model is centered on selling the data service from its network, not the individual hardware units to end-users. Third, integrated solution providers like ANRA Technologies and Dronfies offer combined software and services, which could choose to build or partner for surveillance data, representing both a competitive and partnership channel.

INVOLI's current defensible edge is its claimed first-mover status in deploying a dedicated, low-altitude Supplemental Data Service network. The VistaTrack deployment of over 550 receivers across several major U.S. cities creates a tangible, operational asset [suasnews.com, June 2025]. This network generates a proprietary data feed of aircraft tracking down to 200 feet, integrating multiple protocols like ADS-B, UAT, and in some areas MLAT for Mode S [unmannedairspace.info]. The edge is perishable, however, as it depends on continuous capital for network expansion and maintenance against rivals who could replicate the infrastructure with sufficient investment. The company's participation in the Swiss U-Space Implementation, a national program led by skyguide, provides a regulatory and credibility moat in its home market that may be difficult for foreign entrants to quickly match [startup.ch].

The company's most significant exposure is its reliance on the UTM ecosystem for distribution. INVOLI does not appear to market a direct-to-operator product; its data is consumed via APIs integrated into platforms like AirMap or High Lander [GovTech, April 2024]. This makes it vulnerable to decisions by those platform providers, who could develop their own surveillance capabilities or switch to a competing data supplier. Furthermore, well-capitalized hardware incumbents like uAvionix, with deeper roots in aviation certification and manufacturing scale, could decide to launch a competing ground network service, leveraging their existing customer relationships and hardware expertise.

The most plausible 18-month scenario hinges on regulatory mandates for BVLOS operations. If U.S. or European authorities begin to require certified surveillance data for certain drone corridors, INVOLI's operational network and early SDS designation in Dallas position it to capture that demand spike [globalairspaceradar.com]. In that case, the winner would be INVOLI, provided it can secure the capital to scale its network ahead of demand. The loser in such a scenario would be software-only UTM players who lack a owned surveillance layer and would become dependent on INVOLI or similar data providers, potentially compressing their margins. Conversely, if regulatory progress stalls and the market for BVLOS data services remains nascent, INVOLI's capital-light model may struggle against better-funded integrated players who can sustain longer sales cycles.

Data Accuracy: GREEN -- Competitor profiles and funding stages confirmed via Crunchbase; INVOLI's product positioning and network claims are corroborated by multiple trade publications.

Opportunity

PUBLIC The commercial prize for INVOLI is the role of foundational infrastructure provider for the safe integration of drones into low-altitude airspace, a prerequisite for the projected $100 billion-plus drone services economy.

The headline opportunity is to become the default low-altitude surveillance data layer for uncrewed traffic management (UTM) systems globally. The company is not merely selling hardware receivers; it is building a real-time data network that addresses a critical, unsolved safety gap. The evidence for this outcome being reachable, not just aspirational, lies in its early operational deployments. INVOLI has already launched what it describes as the world's first Low Altitude Surveillance Supplemental Data Service (SDS) covering over 10,000 square kilometers of Dallas, Texas, a service now used to support beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations [GovTech, April 2024]. Its VistaTrack network, with over 550 active receivers deployed across major U.S. metropolitan areas, represents tangible, scaled infrastructure [suasnews.com, June 2025]. This positions the company not as a concept, but as an incumbent data provider in the emerging regulatory frameworks, like U-Space in Europe, that mandate such surveillance for commercial drone activities [startup.ch].

Growth from this foundation could follow several concrete paths, each with identifiable catalysts.

Scenario	What happens	Catalyst	Why it's plausible
Regulatory Standard-Bearer	INVOLI's data service becomes the de facto reference for BVLOS risk assessments, embedded in aviation authority guidelines.	A national aviation authority (e.g., FAA, EASA) formally recognizes or certifies its SDS for operational approval.	The company has already supported customers in obtaining SORA (Specific Operations Risk Assessment) approvals using its data, demonstrating regulatory utility [airport-suppliers.com]. Its participation in the Swiss U-Space Implementation, a nationwide program led by the civil aviation authority, provides a direct channel for standardization [startup.ch].
UTM Platform Embed	The INVOLI.live API becomes a must-have integration for major UTM software providers, creating a high-margin, recurring data business.	A strategic partnership or white-label deal with a leading UTM player like AirMap or ANRA Technologies.	INVOLI's technology is described as integrating advanced surveillance data into UTM systems, and the company has formed partnerships with firms like High Lander and Skyway to enhance UTM solutions [GovTech, April 2024]. The business model shift from hardware sales to SaaS-like data feeds is already articulated.
Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Gatekeeper	The company's real-time surveillance network becomes critical infrastructure for managing initial UAM corridors and vertiport approaches.	A leading eVTOL manufacturer or air taxi operator selects INVOLI for a pilot corridor safety program.	The company's explicit targeting of the urban air mobility sector and its capability to track aircraft down to 200 feet AGL directly addresses the core safety challenge for dense, low-altitude UAM operations [unmannedairspace.info].

Compounding for INVOLI would manifest as a classic data network effect. Each new receiver deployment expands geographic coverage, which in turn makes the service more valuable for drone operators in that region seeking BVLOS approvals. This increased utility drives more adoption by UTM providers and regulators, which funds further network densification and technology development, such as adding tracking for newer protocols like RemoteID. The flywheel appears to be in motion: the initial Dallas deployment has expanded into a multi-city U.S. network, and the platform now integrates data from multiple surveillance sources (ADS-B, UAT, MLAT) into a single API [unmannedairspace.info]. This creates a data moat; replicating this sensor network and integration layer represents a significant capital and time barrier for new entrants.

The size of the win, should the company successfully execute on the UTM platform embed scenario, can be framed by looking at comparable infrastructure-as-a-service providers in adjacent sectors. For instance, aviation data giant FlightAware was acquired by Collins Aerospace in 2021 for a reported $1.8 billion. While not a direct comparison, it illustrates the valuation potential for a business that becomes an essential, hard-to-replicate data layer for a critical industry. If INVOLI's data service were to become embedded in a majority of UTM systems supporting a drone economy projected to be worth over $100 billion, a valuation in the high hundreds of millions to low billions is a plausible outcome for a category-defining infrastructure player (scenario, not a forecast).

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Growth scenarios and network scale are supported by multiple trade publications, but specific commercial traction and financial metrics remain limited.

Sources

PUBLIC

1. [GovTech, April 2024] INVOLI’s New Drone Surveillance Program Gets Off the Ground | https://www.govtech.com/biz/involis-new-drone-surveillance-program-gets-off-the-ground

2. [involi.com] INVOLI | Real-Time Air Traffic Surveillance & Advanced Receivers | https://www.involi.com/

3. [suasnews.com, June 2025] VistaTrack: Real-Time Air Traffic Surveillance for BVLOS Drones | https://www.involi.com/blog/involi-news-2/involi-announces-vistatrack-the-worlds-largest-bvlos-surveillance-network-now-live-in-major-u-s-cities-34

4. [Crunchbase] INVOLI - Crunchbase Company Profile & Funding | https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/involi

5. [Solar Impulse Foundation] INVOLI | Solar Impulse Foundation | https://solarimpulse.com/companies/involi

6. [find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk] INVOLI LIMITED - UK Company Profile | https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/12685869

7. [LinkedIn] Cristina Mihalachioiu - LinkedIn Profile | https://www.linkedin.com/company/involi

8. [patents.justia.com] Patents assigned to Involi SA | https://patents.justia.com

9. [DroneTalks, 2023] INVOLI’s impact on airspace management | https://dronetalks.online/involis-impact-on-airspace-management/

10. [GENIUS NY] GENIUS NY Cohort 8 Reflections: INVOLI Builds U.S. Momentum with Strategic Support and Syracuse Roots | https://geniusny.com/genius-ny-cohort-8-reflections-involi-builds-u-s-momentum-with-strategic-support-and-syracuse-roots/

11. [unmannedairspace.info] INVOLI Provides Low Altitude Surveillance Data | https://unmannedairspace.info

12. [globalairspaceradar.com] INVOLI Launches First Low Altitude Surveillance SDS | https://globalairspaceradar.com

13. [airport-suppliers.com] INVOLI.live Platform for BVLOS Authorization | https://airport-suppliers.com

14. [startup.ch] INVOLI Part of Swiss U-Space Implementation | https://startup.ch

15. [MarketsandMarkets, 2023] Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) Market - Global Forecast to 2030 | https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/unmanned-traffic-management-market-251095711.html

16. [agefi.com] INVOLI Seed Funding | https://www.agefi.com

17. [Crunchbase] AirMap - Crunchbase Company Profile | https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/airmap

18. [Crunchbase] uAvionix - Crunchbase Company Profile | https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/uavionix

19. [Crunchbase] Altitude Angel - Crunchbase Company Profile | https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/altitude-angel

20. [Crunchbase] ANRA Technologies - Crunchbase Company Profile | https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/anra-technologies