Born on the way up.
Levitate Aerospace began as an idea on the Niesen in May 2024. No signal, and a question that wouldn't go away: why make the battery fight gravity when a lifting gas can do the lifting?
The story
From the mountain to the workshop.
The picture above is from 5 May 2024, taken on the way up the Niesen. That's the hour the idea was born.
5 May 2024
The idea on the Niesen
Two founders, a steep hike, a conversation about the industry's biggest frustration: gravity versus battery life. At the top, with an early version of ChatGPT, the first rough sums. The verdict: in theory, it works. The feeling: this is crazy. Let's do it.
2024 to 2025
Several prototypes
Two years of development with several prototypes. Hardware, done like software: build, fly, learn, build again.
September 2025
ELP6 flies
The big prototype, eight metres long, flies. The sums from the mountain hold up.
September 2026
Maiden flight of TENEO|E
The pre-series is in build. A year after ELP6, TENEO|E takes off for the first time.
Principles
Two principles will do.
No overpromising
If the aircraft stays on the ground in a storm, we say so. If a deadline gets tight, we say so beforehand. No black box, no excuses.
Same boat
You build a business on our data. We listen to what really matters on your line, and we develop with you, not just for you.
Team
Three founders, three domains.
Two were on the Niesen. The third joins in November 2026.
Andi Zaugg · CEO
An entrepreneur with 30 years in software, UAV and AI, 20 of them in leadership. Full-time on levitate since 2024.
Adrien Barbot · CTO
Aerospace engineer and entrepreneur. He co-built the avionics for the Airbus A380, A400M and A350 and knows EASA certification first-hand. He joins us in November 2026.
Gabriela Odermatt-Feuz · CRO
She ran a Swiss SME with 130 staff and has an eye for compliance and lean operations. Our voice and our network.
From the Niesen to the whole valley.
Today we fly for inspection. Tomorrow the same flight delivers the whole valley, to everyone who needs it.
Andi, Adrien and Gabi make time for you.