Percepto co-founders depart as Israeli drone company expands into physical AI
After more than a decade at the company, CEO Dor Abuhasira and former chief revenue officer Ariel Avitan are departing. Percepto is launching Axion, a software platform that extends its business beyond its own drones to analyze data from third-party equipment.
Two of the founders of Israeli technology company Percepto are leaving the firm after more than a decade. Dor Abuhasira, a co-founder and the company’s CEO, has announced his departure after 12 years. Ariel Avitan, another co-founder who served as chief revenue officer, left after 11 years.
Avitan announced his departure in a LinkedIn post about two months ago. He wrote that the company, which he founded alongside Abuhasira and two others, had grown into a significant player in autonomous industrial operations, helping organizations monitor critical infrastructure. Abuhasira commented on the post, thanking Avitan for their partnership.
Abuhasira has now announced that his own tenure at the company is coming to an end. In his farewell message, he reflected on 12 years at Percepto, a journey that began, by his account, with building makeshift drones in his backyard. He described the company’s founding as a partnership among engineers who recognized the potential of autonomous drones long before the technology became an established commercial market.
Alongside Abuhasira’s departure, Percepto announced the appointment of a new CEO, Julien Bellanger. According to the company, the incoming chief executive brings management experience from large corporations and expertise in selling technology solutions to major enterprises. Percepto says it is entering a new phase of expansion, with plans to revamp its product offering, sales operations and market penetration strategies.
Founded in 2014, Percepto develops autonomous drone systems for inspecting and monitoring industrial facilities and critical infrastructure, including energy plants, power stations, and oil and gas facilities. Its systems enable remote inspections, using artificial intelligence to analyze data collected in the field and identify faults or potential risks.
The company serves large industrial customers worldwide, particularly in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Over the years, it has expanded beyond drone manufacturing to develop software that analyzes visual data collected by drones, cameras and other sources.
In June 2023, Percepto announced a $67 million funding round comprising $50 million in equity and $17 million in debt financing. Koch Disruptive Technologies led the equity round. The company had previously raised $11.5 million in a round announced in 2017, $15 million in 2019 and $45 million in 2020.
The founders’ departures coincide with a strategic shift toward software. Percepto announced the launch of Axion, a platform for “physical AI” designed to analyze data not only from its own drones but also from drone fleets and sensors made by other manufacturers.
The platform combines AI models with industrial inspection data to help organizations identify infrastructure problems and prioritize maintenance. By extending its software to equipment from other manufacturers, Percepto is positioning Axion as a platform that can operate beyond its own drone systems.
