A UK firm developing autonomous aerial solutions, sees.ai, has raised £3.65 million in a funding round. The group said the investment will accelerate its delivery of AI-ready insights that transform the management of critical national infrastructure.
The company, supported by Boeing, XeleratedFifty, and the UK Government’s Future Flight Challenge, has previously become the first in the UK to secure Civil Aviation Authority approval for routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations in non-segregated airspace. This milestone enables the group to operate complex missions remotely, capturing precise data from live power lines, oil and gas assets, nuclear facilities, and rail networks.
In addition, sees.ai has secured a contract with National Grid to inspect and monitor the UK’s 7,200 km electricity transmission network. The group says their technology allows centralised control of fleets nationwide, producing data that was previously impossible to obtain — improving safety, reliability, and operational efficiency while supporting the UK’s energy transition.
This latest funding round was co-led by Sustainable Future Ventures, Hearst Ventures, and Elbow Beach, with participation from WakeUp Capital.
John McKenna, CEO of sees.ai, said: “The precision and value of the asset condition data we are now capturing is unmatched globally.
“This funding will accelerate our ability to deliver precise intelligence at network scale, shaping how critical infrastructure is designed, developed and managed.
“As one of the world’s first large-scale implementations of centralised autonomy, this deployment signals the start of an enormous period of growth and abundance, where AI and drones redefine work, boost efficiency, and empower us to better safeguard our planet.”
The funding will also assist with expanding the company’s team and fleet to meet demand, supporting its bid to be a leading innovator at the intersection of AI, autonomous robotics, and the net-zero transition.
