KiteKraft

KiteKraft, a spin-off of the Technical University of Munich and Y Combinator alumni, is a German startup that develops airborne wind power systems for low-cost electricity generation. The “Kites” are flown autonomously in figure-eight patterns and generate electricity through their onboard rotors that mimic wind turbines. The energy created during the Kites operations is transferred to the ground station via a tether, which is then either stored in batteries or fed into the grid.

According to KiteKraft, its devices are made using aluminum, require 10x less material, and provide wind energy at a lower cost compared with traditional wind turbines. Furthermore, it allows operations with a minimal logistical effort from locations that were previously not feasible, with its high-altitude operations reducing visual obstructions.

In May 2023, KiteKraft unveiled a prototype that was integrated with a ground station. The demonstrator was then connected to the public grid in Germany in October 2023. The company intends to launch a 100 kW turbine for farms, municipalities, islands, and microgrids as its first product with plans to upscale to 500 kW systems for multi-megawatt systems capable of utility-scale electricity generation.

Key customers and partnerships

The company has developed partnerships with Xsens, Helix, Gerotor, and 3ERP for the development and manufacturing of its Kites, including its various components such as motion tracking hardware, rotors, and energy storage systems.

Funding and financials

In its latest funding round in December 2022, the company raised EUR 1.5 million (~USD 1.6 million) in a venture round led by Schweizer Kapital Global Impact Fund AG with participation from new and existing angel investors. The funding was to be used for the development of its first pilot production plant, along with advancing its technology from the prototype stage to a grid-connected down-scaled product demonstrator.