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Swedish AirForestry secures SEK 28M pre-Series A for forestry electric drones

Founder-CEO Caroline Walerud is stepping up field validation and adding 12 technician and engineering roles as Northzone leads a convertible from existing backers.

By Ryan Merket · Published May 23, 2026, 1:40pm CT

Why it matters

Forestry equipment has barely changed in decades. If AirForestry's automated, electric thinning system works in the field, it could cut ground impact, ease labor constraints, and reset unit economics.

Led by founder and CEO Caroline Walerud, AirForestry has secured SEK 28 million in pre-Series A convertible financing from existing investors and will ramp up engineering hiring, the company said in a press release.

https://x.com/youwillmakemaps/status/2057936895175462920

Northzone led the convertible. The firm also led AirForestry's 10.3 million euro seed round in 2024, and partner Par-Jorgen Parson now serves as chairman of the board. Walerud took over as CEO in late 2025 to lead what she calls the next phase of field validation and scale-up.

AirForestry says it is developing the world's first aerial tree harvesting technology: an electric, automated system for precision thinning that aims to avoid heavy ground infrastructure and is designed for automation, repeatability, and scale.

"We are moving from a proven concept to advanced field validation," said Walerud. "This pre-commit to the Series A from our existing investors validates both the technology and the market opportunity. Our focus now is accelerating the development and strengthening our organization with 12 new talents: field test technicians, assembly technicians, production test engineers, mechanical engineers, and a Talent & Growth Lead."

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