Former Tesla investor invests in flying car

A Californian start-up has developed a flying car. Former Tesla investor Tim Draper is now supporting the project with around three million US dollars in seed capital. The backgrounds.

Tesla is now known around the world. If Jim Dukhovny is lucky, this will also apply to his start-up in the future Alef Aeronautics.

The California-based company has developed a flying car. And apparently it has Interest from former Tesla investor Tim Draper awakened.

Flying car: Tesla investor supports production

Initially, the prominent venture capitalist only invested a relatively small sum in Dukhovny’s so-called Model A. However, when he saw that the Alef Aeronautics team had developed a small prototype drone, he decided to invest a larger sum.

He has now made a total of three million US dollars seed capital available to the US start-up.

Tesla investor convinced by the design

At first glance, the Model A from Alef Aeronautics looks like a relatively normal car. However, the car can take off and land vertically – and of course fly.

Above all, the change in design after the launch prompted Draper to invest in the Silicon Valley start-up.

The design is extraordinary. The sides of the vehicle become the wings as the plane levels off.

Vehicle and wing at the same time

This also distinguishes the Model A from other versions of flying cars. As soon as the vehicle lifts off the ground, the cockpit swivels. The body then turns on its side and moves forward.

Propellers drive the system. The whole car is the wing, explains Alef CEO Dukhovny.

Former DJ develops flying car

Dukhovny and his team worked on the development of the flying car for seven years. The computer scientist and software developer had never built a vehicle before.

In the Francisco Bay Area it is also known by the name “DjWizard” known. For more than 20 years he has planned and promoted events – in big nightclubs, but also for universities like Stanford and Berkeley.

The science fiction fan used to run an online gaming site called Intellectual Casino. And now he also builds flying cars.

Flying car is said to cost $300,000

Alef Aeronautics’ Model A is set to hit the market for $300,000, according to Dukhovny. The company is planning the first production and also the first deliveries for the year 2025.

But the Model A is far from over for the aeronautics newcomer. A Model Z sedan is planned for 2030. It is said to have a flight range of around 321 kilometers and a driving range of 644 kilometers. The flying limo is expected to cost around $35,000.

Tim Draper has not only invested in Tesla in the past. Hotmail, Skype, Twitter, Twitch and Coinbase are also among some of his investments. In addition, the venture capitalist is one of the first investors in Theranos.

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