German startup VARIDION has closed a €30 million equity round and been selected for a €94.5 million EU Innovation Fund grant to build Europe’s first certified electric regional aircraft.
ELECTRIC AVIATION
VARIDION raises €30M and wins €94.5M EU Innovation Fund selection
On 5 November, Munich-based VARIDION announced a €30 million Series A2 led by SHIFT Invest and Invest-NL, with participation from World Fund, Project A, and Vsquared Ventures.
The European Commission has separately selected the company for a €94.5 million EU Innovation Fund grant, supporting the Carolus project -- a final assembly line at Oberpfaffenhofen Airport near Munich. The grant agreement is expected in 2027.
VARIDION is building the Microliner, a nine-passenger all-electric aircraft designed for 400 km range under IFR, targeting EASA CS-23 certification and commercial service in 2030. Total equity raised to date: approximately €60 million. Conditional orders: more than 130 aircraft worth over €730 million. Launch customer: ASL Group.
WHY IT MATTERS
The EU Innovation Fund path for hard tech
The EU Innovation Fund is one of Europe’s most underpublicised large-grant routes for clean and deep tech. It is funded by revenues from the EU carbon market and targets breakthrough clean technologies at pre-commercial scale -- clean aviation, energy storage, industrial decarbonisation, hydrogen.
For founders: the VARIDION grant, if signed, would provide €94.5 million non-dilutive to build a commercial production facility. The Fund prioritises applicants who have demonstrated market demand. VARIDION’s 130-aircraft conditional order book was central to its selection.
Entry point: The EU Innovation Fund runs recurring calls for large-scale and small-scale projects. It is open to companies across all EU member states plus Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. Applications are assessed by the European Commission’s Climate Action DG.
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