Apian - drone deliveries to help the fight against COVID-19
by Startacus Admin
Apian is a London-based startup that has created a drone-based delivery system for COVID-19 samples, test-kits, and PPE...
During the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been coming up with all sorts of ways to help others affected in some way by it, whether it’s supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs or simple drone delivery of sweets at Halloween in our own Derry.
It would go without saying, if it weren’t important to do so, that the NHS have done an excellent and unenviable job, putting themselves in harm’s way and having to move away from their own families in order to treat COVID patients. Now, two NHS doctors in training have gone further again and founded a business to get testing kits, samples, and personal protective equipment to people quicker and more safely.
London-based startup Apian has created a drone-based delivery system for those COVID-19 samples, test-kits, and PPE, rather than creating unnecessary risk to NHS staff and others through close contact.
Apian is establishing a network of secure air corridors for their electric drones to operate, based at Broomfield Hospital in Essex, where it will be supported by the local Anglia Ruskin University as the academic partner. This method, navigated by GPS, not only frees up NHS staff, but it circumvents wait times for couriers, traffic congestion, and some of the pollution caused by NHS transportation (which Apian says accounts for 5% of all UK road transport emissions).
Of course, this drone delivery system will be of great benefit beyond COVID-19, delivering medicine, blood packs, equipment, and anything a drone can safely carry. Working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority, UK Space Agency, and the emergency services, Apian is building not only a secure NHS Air Grid, but also the infrastructure to support it - namely landing pads on hospital, lab, and warehouse rooftops.
In October, the UK Space Agency announced that it was backing Apian in this endeavour as part of an ongoing effort to support space-related startups (GPS in Apian’s case) making a difference in areas affected by COVID-19.
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
Dublin-based startup EVERYANGLE is on a mission to help businesses improve efficiency, optimize operations and reduce loss with their innovative computer vision solutions.
Pixyle AI secures seed funding round to help fashion ecommerce deliver better search experiences, enabling consumers to get to their desired items faster.
SaaS platform Mambu’s global network of partners share their insights and predictions on the forces likely to shape the industry next year.
Employee wellbeing experts Loopin share some insights on the truth behind your employee's notice of resignation.
Proptech startup Speiz secures seed investment to support its mission of digitally transforming the broken brokerage market.
The lowdown on Manchester based startup Chatloop and its mission to transform social media, giving you the power to start conversations on any website.
BT reveals new cohort of innovative startups aiming to help solve sustainability challenges in the manufacturing sector.
London-based startup Ribbon is on a mission to help other businesses better understand their users and build better product experiences.
London-based SaaS startup OutThink has developed an innovative approach to help companies to visualise risk, target interventions and prevent data breaches.
Participants in Catalyst’s Co-Founders programme offered opportunity to avail of a £10,000 proof of concept grant from Techstart to help validate their business idea.
Published on: 16th November 2020
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- Pixyle AI boosts fashion retailer sales by improving product discovery using AI 8th Dec 2022 Pixyle AI secures seed funding round to help fashion ecommerce deliver better search experiences, enabling consumers to get to their desired items faster.
- Norwegian proptech Speiz raises €1.3M to launch new European platform for warehouse leasing 5th Dec 2022 Proptech startup Speiz secures seed investment to support its mission of digitally transforming the broken brokerage market.
- BT pushes ahead with new sustainable digital solutions through its Green Tech Innovation Platform 1st Dec 2022 BT reveals new cohort of innovative startups aiming to help solve sustainability challenges in the manufacturing sector.
- Catalyst and Techstart offering startup co-founders the chance to win £10k proof of concept grants 30th Nov 2022 Participants in Catalyst’s Co-Founders programme offered opportunity to avail of a £10,000 proof of concept grant from Techstart to help validate their business idea.
