Singapore drone startup Performance Rotors acquired by Xtend

HOME-GROWN drone technology startup Performance Rotors has been acquired by Israeli drone software company Xtend, the latter announced on Thursday (May 18). Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Performance Rotors conducts drone inspections for the maritime, oil and gas, and infrastructure sectors.

“(Our) mission has always been to develop drones and robotics solutions for data acquisition in GPS-denied and confined space environments, without the risk to human lives,” said Keith Ng, co-founder and chief executive officer of the startup.

Xtend’s semi-autonomous operating system offers an alternative to the traditional drone controller, allowing operators to perform accurate drone manoeuvres with minimal training. Operators will also be able to remotely access environments that are unsafe, confined or lack GPS connection.

“Every day, people risk their lives to make our world safer. Inspection is just one area, among many, where machines, robots and drones can be used to accomplish what people can’t, in a more economical, efficient and safer manner,” said Aviv Shapira, co-founder and CEO of Xtend.

Founded in 2016, Performance Rotors previously secured funding from Dutch multinational company Royal Vopak in 2020, and from the Singapore Economic Development Board’s corporate venture building arm, EDB New Ventures, in 2021.