Munich-based Twentyfour Industries has officially emerged from stealth, revealing $11.8 million in early-stage funding to accelerate the mass production of cost-efficient drones for European militaries and allied partners. Founded in late 2024, the startup has spent more than a year developing and deploying its first product, the Q-X, a 10-inch quadcopter optimized for short, non-kinetic missions. The company says European soldiers are already operating hundreds of units in the field, highlighting early traction even before a public launch.
A Focus on Sovereignty and Scalability
The startup’s co-founders, Clemens Kürten (CEO), Erik Linden (CCO), Martin Eichenhofer (COO), and Constantin Jung (VP of Engineering), bring decades of combined experience in aerospace and materials design, with academic and professional ties across Switzerland and Germany. They emphasize European sovereignty as a core motivation, aiming to provide a domestic alternative to foreign drone suppliers. “Our mission is to enable European and allied partners with an end-to-end approach: product, training, and lifecycle management,” Kürten said, stressing the importance of combining technology, production, and operational readiness from day one.
The Q-X: A Modular, Multi-Mission Drone
Twentyfour Industries’ first product, the Q-X, is a compact, modular drone capable of carrying up to 2.5 kilograms over a 12-kilometer radius at speeds of up to 140 km/h. With a maximum flight time of 20 minutes, the platform is designed for flexibility across multiple missions without deploying kinetic payloads. According to the company, the Q-X maintains 98% availability and has already generated revenue through contracts spanning multiple countries, though specific clients and pricing remain undisclosed.
Strategic Timing in European Defence Tech
The launch comes at a pivotal moment for European defence technology, as conflicts such as the war in Ukraine have demonstrated the critical role of unmanned systems in modern warfare. Governments are increasingly seeking affordable, reliable drones to enhance operational capacity while maintaining cutting-edge capabilities. However, production gaps and varying quality across suppliers have created opportunities for startups like Twentyfour Industries to deliver consistent, scalable solutions that meet real-world operational demands.
Investment Backing and Market Confidence
The $11.8 million funding round is led by prominent early-stage investors Lakestar and OTB Ventures, with participation from Berlin-based 468 Capital, marking its initial foray into European defence tech. The financing will support scaling production and expanding the startup’s operational capabilities. Founders emphasize that the extended stealth period allowed the team to focus on execution, deploying hundreds of drones before announcing their presence publicly.
Operational Credibility and Field Feedback
Twentyfour Industries prioritizes real-world validation over complexity, according to co-founder Erik Linden. By working closely with operators in the field, the startup adapts product iterations to practical requirements, ensuring faster deployment and greater value delivery. This approach, combined with European manufacturing capacity and end-to-end support, is central to the company’s pitch for sovereign defence solutions.
While the company has not disclosed detailed roadmaps, valuations, or specific customer names, it underscores a clear objective: to strengthen Europe’s drone production capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. Based in Munich, a growing hub for defence technology, Twentyfour Industries aims to combine industrial muscle with technological innovation, positioning itself as a key player in Europe’s expanding unmanned systems ecosystem. As ministries of defence continue to scale drone operations, the startup’s focus on execution and operational credibility could offer a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving market.