Zuri Secures €3 Million New Investment, Oversubscribed Pre-Series A Reaches €4.4M to Advance Hybrid VTOL Aircraft Innovation

Zuri, a leading developer of hybrid VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft, has announced the successful closing of a €3 million investment in its recently concluded pre-Series A funding round. Initially targeted at €1.5 million, the round was oversubscribed nearly threefold, ultimately raising €4.4 million. 

The investment has already been received and registered in the Commercial Register, marking a significant milestone in Zuri’s mission to redefine Advanced Regional Air Mobility with sustainable, innovative flight solutions.

“This remarkable level of support from our investors reinforces Zuri’s mission and momentum,” said Michal Illich, Founder of Zuri. “With the funds raised, we can now confidently accelerate the next stage of our development - building our next-generation technology demonstrator, TD 2.0.”

Next-Generation Technology Demonstrator, TD 2.0
Zuri’s next-generation technology demonstrator represents a significant leap forward in hybrid VTOL aircraft design. Building on the success of its first-generation, 11-meter demonstrator, which has already completed flight testing, TD 2.0 will deliver groundbreaking advancements in three key areas:

• Hybrid Powertrain: Integrating a hybrid propulsion system combining the best of electric and internal combustion technologies to deliver extended range, operational flexibility, and reduced environmental impact.
• Full Flight Mode Capability: Zuri’s large-scale demonstrator will operate in all flight modes — vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), transition, and cruise — thanks to the incorporation of tiltrotors. (note: Zuri has successfully tested these modes in multiple subscale models.)
• Refined Zuri 2.0 Design: The new Zuri 2.0 aircraft design, introduces advanced tiltrotors and a reengineered tail section, significantly improving aerodynamic efficiency, stability, and overall performance.

“With TD 2.0, we’re not just making incremental improvements — we’re redefining what’s possible in VTOL mobility,” added Illich. “This phase of development will demonstrate the potential of our hybrid concept, bringing us one step closer to safe, efficient, sustainable, and on-demand mid-range travel.”

The Investors

This round was led by Jan Barta, General Partner of Pale Fire Capital (PFC), a leading PE firm with a diverse portfolio spanning technology, energy, and global markets. PFC has been a longstanding supporter of initiatives focused on education, freedom, and democracy, aligning closely with Zuri’s mission to redefine sustainable and innovative Regional Air Mobility.

“I have been watching Michal’s level of persistence for the last several years.” Barta says. “Advancing a large VTOL project and being capital constrained the whole time was an immense challenge and Michal never gave up. Those are true qualities of real founders. This funding will now allow Zuri to scale up quickly and one can say, actually in the literal sense, the sky is truly the limit here.”

Pale Fire Capital was Zuri’s very first investor back in 2018, so its General Partner’s follow-up investment underscores the long-term trust in and support for Zuri’s vision of advancing hybrid aviation. In addition to Barta’s investment, this round included contributions from notable angel investors, such as Boris Renski (U.S., founder of FreedomFi and co-founder of Mirantis), Matej Turek’s 10X fund, and a group of investors from Europe and the U.S., further validating Zuri’s global appeal and market potential.

Expanding the Team
To support this ambitious next phase, Zuri is expanding its team to accelerate progress toward delivering hybrid VTOL solutions. The company is hiring across multiple disciplines, including aerospace design, project management, electrical engineering, and software development. The goal is to attract top-tier talent from Europe and beyond to help bring Zuri’s transformative vision for the future of Regional Air Mobility to life.