SKEMA student awarded French Tech Emergence grant for his modular industrial drone Hellyos

How did Hellyos begin?

Leelyan Benamane: Drone usage is rising in many sectors, from infrastructure inspection to film production and parcel delivery. Our aim was to design a device that meets the technical limits faced by current drones, especially on modularity and flight time. This led to Hellyos, a drone shaped around the user’s needs. Its modular structure allows pilots to adjust the drone’s range or its onboard equipment. Most components are replaceable, which limits obsolescence.

Are there other modular drones of this kind?

No. The market does not offer this level of modularity. We have filed a patent, which should be completed in January.

Which sectors are you targeting?

We focus on the inspection of onshore and offshore wind turbines, as well as bridges and other large structures.

Where does the project stand today?

We are working on a functional prototype. We prefer not to show it until the patent process is complete. With the first round of funding, we are finalising the design and production of our first prototype: OMEGA.

What are the priority use cases?

Wind turbine inspection is our main target, both onshore and offshore, along with the inspection of bridges. These tasks expose the limits of current drones, whose short flight time and lack of modularity reduce efficiency for pilots.

Where will Hellyos be manufactured?

In France. We work with French and European partners. With Airmod, which has collaborated with Airbus, the drone’s electronics will be designed and assembled in France.

How is your team organised?

There are four of us. The three co-founders in the video presentation of Hellyos are embedded-systems and autonomous-systems engineers from ESIEA. I lead project management.

You have just received the French Tech Emergence grant. How did the process unfold?

We presented the project before a Bpifrance committee. This deeptech grant is awarded each year to fewer than one hundred companies. I prepared the application as part of my final-year business plan, with support from Nicolas Servel, professor and academic director of several entrepreneurship programmes at SKEMA. We are also supported by SKEMA Entrepreneurs.

What are the next steps?

Completing the patent, finalising the OMEGA prototype, testing the drone with our early adopters, and preparing the next funding round to advance Hellyos. We will communicate each milestone: patent approval, prototype launch, new technological partnerships.

How does the MSc PPMBD support students like Leelyan?

Arnaud Lacheret*: The MSc Project Management for Business Development suits students like Leelyan: entrepreneurial, unconventional, ready to take responsibility. It provides structure and method while leaving space for initiative. I am not surprised by his progress. He has used a clear creative instinct while applying rigorous techniques gained during the programme.

Learn more about Hellyos ; LinkedIn Page

*Arnaud Lacheret was the academic director of the MSc PPMBD.