Cleo Robotics
Cleo Robotics manufactures the Dronut DD1, a compact NDAA-compliant US-made drone with enclosed propellers, 4K video, and 3D LiDAR for indoor inspections, defense, and law-enforcement use in GPS-denied environments.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cleo Robotics does
Cleo Robotics, Inc. is a privately held Massachusetts corporation, founded in 2018 and headquartered at 12 Channel St, Suite 202 in Boston. The company designs and manufactures compact drone systems engineered for safe operation in indoor, confined, and GPS-denied environments where conventional drones cannot fly. Its flagship product, the Dronut DD1, is a 190mm-diameter, 520-gram palm-sized drone with fully enclosed propellers, integrating a 4K camera, a 224x171 resolution 3D LiDAR, proximity sensors, and a proprietary autonomy stack that supports position hold and navigation without GPS. The system ships with a dedicated Android-based ground controller featuring an 8-inch 1920x1200 touchscreen, dual 2-axis joysticks, and a 3.5 km radio range with sub-250 ms video latency. The Dronut DD1 is NDAA compliant and manufactured in the United States, positioning it for US federal, defense, and intelligence procurement.
Cleo targets three primary use-case segments: industrial inspection of storage tanks, pressure vessels, silos, ducts, and utility conduits (with logos including Chevron and Dow Chemical); government and law-enforcement applications such as building clearing, urban ISR, and emergency response; and defense deployments requiring rugged, GPS-denied operation (with logos including the US Army, BAE Systems, SpaceX, and an investment from IQT). The revenue model is hardware-centric: one-time sales of the Dronut DD1 System bundle (drone, joystick controller, battery) plus recurring accessory sales (extra battery packs), with pricing handled through a Request-for-Quote process rather than published list pricing. Distribution combines a sales-led direct motion via the cleorobotics.com RFQ form with a flagship channel partnership signed in December 2025 with Tokyo-Boeki Techno System covering OEM automation projects in Japan and the United States.
Cleo's competitive positioning rests on the enclosed-propeller safety architecture, the miniaturized form factor, and NDAA-compliant US manufacturing, which together open doors that larger Chinese-manufactured drones cannot access in US federal and defense markets. The company has participated in Techstars (2019, $120K), received MassChallenge recognition (2018), closed a round with Bantam Group (2020), and secured an investment from In-Q-Tel (2025). Co-founders Simon Czarnota (CTO) and Omar Eleryan (CEO) lead a team of 11-50 employees.
Cleo Robotics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cleo Robotics
- Legal name
- Cleo Robotics, Inc.
- Website
- https://cleorobotics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Cleo Robotics manufactures the Dronut DD1, a compact NDAA-compliant US-made drone with enclosed propellers, 4K video, and 3D LiDAR for indoor inspections, defense, and law-enforcement use in GPS-denied environments.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cleo Robotics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Drones (Indoor/Confined-Space UAV)
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Aerial Robotics (Drones & UAV Autonomy) (HDAAAIAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) & Multirotor Drones (IMABAIAA), Robot Software, Autonomy Stacks & Simulation (ROS, digital twins) (HDAAAIAK), Robotics Safety, Certification & Compliance (HDAAAIAO)
Keywords
Where Cleo Robotics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cleo Robotics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Dronut DD1 Drone System: One-time hardware purchase of Dronut DD1 system including drone, joystick controller, and battery pack. Additional revenue from extra battery packs and accessories.
- Industrial & Government Drone Sales: Direct B2B and B2G sales of Dronut DD1 for industrial inspections and government/defense applications. Pricing via RFQ process.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Dronut DD1 System - Core package with drone, controller, and battery |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Extra Battery Pack - Accessory add-on |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Cleo Robotics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cleo Robotics designs, manufactures, and sells the Dronut DD1, a palm-sized, enclosed-propeller drone system purpose-built for indoor, confined-space, and GPS-denied environments. The complete system bundles the drone with an Android-based touchscreen ground controller and a smart battery pack, and is sold to industrial inspection, law enforcement, and defense customers via a quote-based RFQ process and a Japan/US distribution partner.
Product overview
Cleo Robotics offers the Dronut DD1 as its primary product line - a compact drone system engineered for indoor, confined space, and GPS-denied environments. The core offering includes the Dronut DD1 drone itself, a Joystick Controller (Ground Controller) with built-in display, and a Smart Battery Pack. These components are available as a bundled system (Dronut DD1 System) or as individual accessories. The Dronut DD1 is designed for industrial inspections, government/defense operations, law enforcement, and emergency response applications where traditional drones cannot operate effectively.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Dronut: Product line of compact drones designed for indoor, confined space, and GPS-denied environments. Includes Dronut DD1 as the current flagship model.
Products and services
- Dronut DD1 A 190mm diameter, 520g palm-sized drone with fully enclosed propellers, 4K camera, 3D LiDAR, and GPS-denied autonomy, designed for indoor, confined-space, and GPS-denied operations. Targeted at industrial inspection, law enforcement, emergency response, and defense applications.
- Joystick Controller (Ground Controller)
Quantifiable outcome
- <60 second deployment time
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Cleo Robotics
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cleo Robotics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Cleo Robotics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Tokyo-Boeki Techno SystemflagshipDistribution partnership enabling market entry into Japan and US markets. TTS leverages its established sales network to distribute Cleo Robotics' Dronut DD1 for OEM projects in automation sectors. The partnership was announced in December 2025.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cleo Robotics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Flyability: Swiss maker of the Elios series of collision-tolerant indoor drones for confined-space inspections in power plants, mining, and public safety. Closest direct comparable to Cleo: also targets indoor/confined-space industrial inspection with a caged/enclosed-propeller airframe.
- Percepto: Provider of autonomous industrial drone-in-a-box inspection solutions for energy, utilities, and heavy industry sites. Comparable to Cleo's industrial-inspection vertical, though Percepto focuses on outdoor persistent site monitoring rather than indoor confined spaces.
- BRINC: US-based manufacturer of indoor tactical drones (LEMUR) used by law enforcement for building clearing and SWAT operations. Directly comparable to Cleo's government/law-enforcement use cases for indoor, GPS-denied tactical reconnaissance.
- Teal Drones: US manufacturer of NDAA-compliant small UAS (Teal 2) targeting defense, security, and government markets with a focus on portable tactical platforms. Comparable on NDAA compliance, US manufacturing, and defense/government GTM.
Broad incumbents
- Skydio: Leading US-made autonomous drone maker serving defense, public safety, and enterprise inspection with NDAA-compliant platforms. Overlaps Cleo on autonomy, NDAA compliance, and defense/public-safety buyer relationships, but at a much larger scale and broader product portfolio.
- Shield AI: US defense autonomy company fielding autonomous quadcopters (V-BAT) and AI pilot software for defense and national security customers. Comparable on defense drone autonomy, NDAA-compliant US production, and government buyer relationships, though portfolio extends to fixed-wing and larger UAS.
- Parrot SA: European drone manufacturer with prosumer and professional/inspection lines (Anafi), including some NDAA-relevant offerings for government work. Comparable as a multi-segment drone vendor, though smaller in defense than the US primes.
- DJI: Dominant global commercial and prosumer drone manufacturer. Comparable as a drone platform maker serving inspection, public-safety, and enterprise use cases, but excluded from US defense market — which is precisely Cleo's wedge.
- Autel Robotics: Manufacturer of prosumer and enterprise drones (EVO series, Dragonfish) used for inspection, mapping, and public safety. Comparable as a competing drone vendor in the inspection and public-safety segments Cleo targets, though Autel's products are larger-format and not enclosed-propeller.
- Anduril Industries: US defense-tech prime building autonomous systems including aerial platforms (Ghost / Roadrunner / Bolt) and Lattice software for ISR and command-and-control. Comparable on defense focus, autonomy stack, and NDAA-compliant US production, though at vastly larger scale and breadth.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cleo Robotics social profiles
Digital presenceCleo Robotics compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Cleo Robotics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cleo Robotics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Cleo Robotics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cleo Robotics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cleo Robotics
What does Cleo Robotics do?
Cleo Robotics designs, manufactures, and sells the Dronut DD1, a palm-sized, enclosed-propeller drone system purpose-built for indoor, confined-space, and GPS-denied environments. The complete system bundles the drone with an Android-based touchscreen ground controller and a smart battery pack, and is sold to industrial inspection, law enforcement, and defense customers via a quote-based RFQ process and a Japan/US distribution partner.
Is Cleo Robotics a public or private company?
Cleo Robotics is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Cleo Robotics founded?
Cleo Robotics was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Cleo Robotics based?
Cleo Robotics is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cleo Robotics make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Dronut DD1 Drone System is the primary driver. The others are industrial & Government Drone Sales.
Who are Cleo Robotics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Flyability, Percepto, BRINC and Teal Drones. Broad incumbents are Skydio, Shield AI, Parrot SA, DJI, Autel Robotics and Anduril Industries.
Does Cleo Robotics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cleo Robotics.
What industry is Cleo Robotics in?
Cleo Robotics's product category is Commercial Drones (Indoor/Confined-Space UAV). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAAAIAG, Aerial Robotics (Drones & UAV Autonomy), with a secondary code of IMABAIAA, Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) & Multirotor Drones. Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.