Chichester-based startup Sees.ai has raised £3.65 million to accelerate the development of its autonomous aerial inspection technology, marking a major milestone in the UK’s push to lead in AI-driven infrastructure management. The funding round was co-led by Sustainable Future Ventures, Hearst Ventures and Elbow Beach Capital, with additional investment from WakeUp Capital.
Founded in 2018, Sees.ai has become the first UK company authorised by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to conduct routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone missions. This world-first approval allows the firm’s drones to operate autonomously in open airspace, inspecting live high-voltage power lines owned by National Grid Electricity Transmission. Since 2021, the company has carried out regular remote inspections, improving safety and efficiency compared with traditional, labour-intensive survey methods.
Sees.ai’s platform captures georeferenced 2D and 3D data optimised for AI analysis, delivering highly accurate intelligence on infrastructure condition. “The precision and value of this data are unmatched globally,” said CEO John McKenna. The new funding will enable Sees.ai to scale operations and deliver AI insights that enhance how infrastructure is designed, developed and maintained.
Supported by Boeing and the UK Government’s Future Flight Challenge, Sees.ai operates at the intersection of two key global priorities: accelerating the transition to net zero and applying AI to transform productivity. Conan Lauterpacht, Founding Partner at Sustainable Future Ventures, called the firm’s technology “both commercially compelling and vital to the net zero transition,” highlighting its role in providing safer and more sustainable infrastructure insights.
Sees.ai’s BVLOS capability represents one of the UK’s most advanced drone permissions, allowing remote, autonomous missions across the country without on-site pilots. This innovation reduces risks associated with human inspection of high-voltage assets and paves the way for similar applications in utilities, transport and telecommunications.
Its ongoing work with National Grid reinforces the technology’s commercial strength and regulatory credibility. By enabling faster, safer and more scalable inspections, Sees.ai is setting new benchmarks for drone-enabled infrastructure management.
The company’s progress exemplifies how AI and autonomous flight can deliver measurable benefits for safety, resilience and sustainability. As the UK strengthens its position in the global AI and drone economy, Sees.ai stands as a clear example of responsible innovation driving both technological leadership and the net zero transition.
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