• German drone delivery provider Wingcopter has received an undisclosed amount of funds from Drone Fund, a Japanese venture capital firm with a focus on drone technology related startups.

• The company intends to utilize the funds to expand its operational reach in Japan.

• Reportedly, the investment comes just before its Series B funding round, of which, the company is currently in its advanced investor discussion stage.

• In addition, Wingcopter also revealed that it is currently working toward a strategic partnership with an unnamed Japanese general trading company through Wingcopter’s Authorized Partnership Program (WAPP)—its global network of strategic partners. The trading company will provide distribution and technical support to its drone “Wingcoper 198” in Japan.

<ul><li> Analyst QuickTake: Today’s news strengthens Wingcopter’s ties with Japan. The company first announced its entry into the Japanese market in April, in collaboration with airline All Nippon Airways (ANA) to build a drone delivery network; of which, trials have now begun. Japan has been a market of interest recently, with several peer companies including Zipline, Matternet, and Skyports also tapping into the market in partnership with third parties. This is partially due to the Japanese government actively recognizing the potential drones have in various applications.</ul>