Ricardo Mendes, founder and president of Tekever, discussed the company’s involvement in supplying drones to Ukraine for surveillance during his appearance at the “League of Innovators.” He explained that Tekever is developing a new drone model with enhanced capabilities, though it has no set release date.
Founded in 2001 by former computer engineering students from Lisbon’s Instituto Superior Técnico, Tekever initially focused on software solutions for Portuguese clients before expanding internationally. Around 2008, the company began investing in drones, which it calls “computers with wings.” By 2017-18, Tekever started offering commercial drone services, experiencing exponential growth. However, it wasn’t until 2022, with the war in Ukraine, that the company’s role in conflict intensified. Tekever currently operates two drone models in Ukraine: the AR3 for ground surveillance and the AR5 for Black Sea monitoring.
Mendes expressed his unequivocal support for Ukraine, emphasizing that Tekever’s involvement is driven by the desire to make an impact rather than financial gain. He also noted that while Tekever doesn’t supply drones for every conflict, they remain committed to situations where they believe the cause is clear.
Mendes shared his optimism for the future, predicting humanoid robots will be available for household tasks by 2025-2027, and highlighted Portugal’s immense untapped talent, which, in his view, needs visionary companies to realize its potential.
Related News