Dropla Tech takes the next step after a year in Odense’s robotics incubator
After a year of development in Odense’s robotics incubator, Dropla Tech is now entering a new phase – with a sharper solution, a stronger foundation, and clear ambitions to scale. The Danish-Ukrainian defence tech startup remains based in Odense, where the incubator has served as a valuable toolbox throughout its early growth.
Founded by Ukrainian entrepreneur V’yacheslav Shvaydak, Dropla Tech tackles a pressing challenge: vast areas of Ukrainian territory are contaminated by landmines and unexploded ordnance – a problem with consequences not only for human safety but also for agriculture and national recovery.
Over the past year, Dropla Tech has developed its GNSS denied georefencing technology at the Odense Robotics StartUp Fund incubator at the Danish Technological Institute, while the team in Ukraine perfected the mine detection technological stack.
“From the beginning, I knew we needed a strong and reputable platform – and in Europe, when it comes to robotics and drones, there’s no place like Odense,” says V’yacheslav Shvaydak.
“I put all my energy into securing a spot in the incubator. It was a privileged position that gave us credibility and opened doors – I could walk into the right rooms with more confidence.”
A valuable toolbox
The incubator provided hands-on support across both technical and business areas – from strategy and administration to operational tools and leadership guidance.
“I would describe the incubator as a toolbox,” says V’yacheslav Shvaydak. While every startup is different, the structured support helped Dropla Tech move from its early inception phase toward a stronger foundation for growth.
Today, the company is focused on transitioning from a startup to SME – a crucial step as demand continues to grow. Dropla Tech’s solution combines a swarm of drones with unmanned ground vehicles. The drones use sensors to detect threats and generate a digital map of the area, while the ground vehicles clear vegetation and confirm that the area is safe for demining teams to enter. The vehicles are built to withstand blasts from anti-personnel mines and are already being tested in Ukraine.
Choosing Denmark for a reason
Although the company is growing, Dropla Tech continues to build from Odense. For V’yacheslav Shvaydak, that choice is about more than logistics. It’s about values.
“I plan to stay in Denmark. I really love the Danish society and what the Danes represent. It’s not about economics – it’s about values,” he says.
He points to a key moment early in the war when Denmark donated 19 of its artillery howitzers to Ukraine – a decision that stood out to him as an extraordinary act of solidarity.
“That gesture left a deep impression on me. It confirmed that Denmark is a country that acts on its principles – and that this is the right place to build a company with a purpose.”