Fundraising Fox
Kitekraft
YC S19Munich, DE · Founded 2019 · Delaware corporation · 6 employees · 2 known investors
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Kitekraft develops airborne wind energy systems that use small tethered aircraft instead of conventional rigid towers and blades to harvest wind and generate low-cost electricity. The technology aims to reduce material use, simplify logistics and installation, and lower landscape impact compared with traditional wind turbines.
Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (S19)
Kitekraft was founded in 2019 by Maximilian Isensee, Christoph Drexler, André Frirdich, and Florian Stappenbeck (Bauer).
MI
Maximilian IsenseeCo-Founder & CEOMaximilian Isensee is a renewable energy engineer and co-founder of the climate NGO Protect Our Winters Germany. He previously worked as a start-up consultant at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.
CD
Christoph DrexlerCo-FounderChristoph Drexler studied mechanical engineering at Technical University of Munich, with graduate work focused on aerodynamics and airfoil optimization. He is now building Kitekraft, a company addressing climate challenges through technological solutions.
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André FrirdichCo-Founder2018–2025André Frirdich is an aerodynamics engineer educated at the Technical University of Munich, with expertise in aircraft, helicopter, and wind turbine technology; his master's thesis addressed flying wind turbine aerodynamics optimization.
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Florian Stappenbeck (Bauer)CTO & Cofounder2019–2025Florian Stappenbeck holds a PhD in electrical engineering from Technical University of Munich, focusing on optimization of airborne wind energy systems. He has authored research publications on flying wind turbine technology and holds multiple patents in the field.
Investors · 2
Y Combinatorlisted by Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K
How we know: the Y Combinator directory · epe.ed.tum.de · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
Schweizer Kapital Global Impact Fund AGreportedZürich
How we know: epe.ed.tum.de · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$1.6M disclosed across 4 rounds · 2019–2022
▶$1.4MraisedMay 2024 · 10 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$1.4MraisedMay 2024 · 10 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Christoph DrexlerDirector
- Florian StappenbeckExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- Maximilian IsenseeExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- Andre FrirdichDirector
- Offering amount
- $1.7M
- Amount sold
- $1.4M
- First sale
- Jun 2022
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2019
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$30KraisedDec 2021 · 1 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$30KraisedDec 2021 · 1 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Maximilian IsenseeExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- Florian BauerExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- Andre FrirdichDirector, Promoter
- Christoph DrexlerDirector, Promoter
- Offering amount
- $2.6M
- Amount sold
- $30K
- First sale
- Nov 2021
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2019
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$95KraisedSep 2020 · 4 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$95KraisedSep 2020 · 4 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Christoph DrexlerDirector, Promoter
- Maximilian IsenseeExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- Florian BauerExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- Andre FrirdichDirector, Promoter
- Offering amount
- $1.4M
- Amount sold
- $95K
- First sale
- Aug 2020
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2019
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$75KraisedOct 2019 · 1 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$75KraisedOct 2019 · 1 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Maximilian IsenseeExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- Andre FrirdichDirector, Promoter
- Christoph DrexlerDirector, Promoter
- Florian BauerExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- Offering amount
- $75K
- Amount sold
- $75K
- First sale
- Sep 2019
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2019
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
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corporate structurekiteKRAFT Inc.
In the news
Frequently asked questions
- What does Kitekraft do?
- Kitekraft develops airborne wind energy systems that use small tethered aircraft instead of conventional rigid towers and blades to harvest wind and generate low-cost electricity. The technology aims to reduce material use, simplify logistics and installation, and lower landscape impact compared with traditional wind turbines.
- Who founded Kitekraft?
- Kitekraft was founded by Maximilian Isensee, Christoph Drexler, André Frirdich, Florian Stappenbeck (Bauer) in 2019.
- Who are Kitekraft's investors?
- Kitekraft's investors include Y Combinator, Schweizer Kapital Global Impact Fund AG.
- How much funding has Kitekraft raised?
- Kitekraft has disclosed $1.6M raised across 4 rounds.
- Where is Kitekraft headquartered?
- Kitekraft is headquartered in Munich, DE.