Founders Everywhere: Etienne Louvet
Etienne Louvet is the founder and CEO of IONA, autonomous drones that optimize last-mile deliveries for shipping companies.
Welcome to Founders Everywhere, where we highlight the incredible people behind the companies we’ve backed at Everywhere Ventures, a global pre-seed fund supported by a community of 500 founders and operators.
Delivering to remote and rural areas is tough because of high costs, worker shortages, and infrastructure gaps. Traditional delivery networks struggle with low-volume, long-distance routes, which limits local communities’ access to essential services and economic opportunities. IONA isn’t just flying packages from point A to B; it’s building a decentralized logistics system that combines advanced drone technology, regulatory intelligence, and digital infrastructure to transform how goods move. Their hyper-efficient autonomous delivery networks combine drones and robotics to help shipping companies cut the hundreds of millions lost each year on last-mile logistics. The name “IONA” was inspired by the Isle of Iona, a remote island in Scotland that exemplifies the challenges of rural logistics; it’s one of the few places without access to school meals due to its remoteness. The name reflects their mission to solve delivery and accessibility issues for underserved, hard-to-reach communities.
Etienne Louvet, founder and CEO, combines deep technical expertise in robotics and aerospace with a strong business background and a passion for cleantech and deeptech. An environmentalist at heart, he’s dedicated to advancing clean energy and sustainable business models that respect ecosystem limits. Before launching IONA, Etienne collaborated on cutting-edge projects with organizations like the European Space Agency, blending advanced technology with practical solutions. He was featured in Forbes' new 30 Under 30 List of 2024 (Europe) and is a Founders Pledge member. He shares more about how IONA is unlocking sustainable deliveries everywhere.
What’s the inspiration behind IONA?
I moved back to rural Brittany, France during COVID and saw how dependent rural areas are on logistics. Deliveries were inefficient and unprofitable, especially in low-density areas. My background in deep tech and autonomous systems made me realize there was a systemic problem needing a systemic solution. I saw drones as a way to make rural deliveries more efficient, sustainable, and affordable.
What’s IONA’s North Star?
We provide efficient, affordable, and sustainable deliveries everywhere and to everyone. That means building decentralized logistics systems so even remote places can access essential goods, which can change local economies and empower small producers.
Tell us about a recent milestone that IONA crushed.
A key milestone is our regulatory approval in the UK and Ireland. We adapted quickly to regulatory changes and proved our system’s scalability. We’re also expanding to the US, where adapting to local regulations is similar. I will actually be at Manifest in Las Vegas in February and looking to connect with investors, founders and logistics companies. You can also reach out on LinkedIn or through the website.
What sets IONA apart?
Engineered for High-Capacity, Long-Range Deliveries: Unlike many others in the drone space, we’re not focused on lightweight, short-range drones. Instead, we specialize in higher-capacity, longer-range deliveries, targeting underserved rural and remote areas.
Full Product Offering: We’ve built more than just aircraft—we deliver a complete solution that includes the drone platform, seamless regulatory integration, and direct customer connection. This means logistics partners get a turnkey, white-label B2B model that fits right into their existing operations.
Proprietary, Energy-Efficient Technology: Our drones are engineered for maximum energy efficiency, enabling deliveries of up to 20 kilos over 100 kilometers with minimal energy use, translating into lower costs and greater sustainability.
Deep Regulatory Expertise: With a team that includes contributors to European drone frameworks, we ensure rapid adaptation and compliance across different regulatory environments, supporting scalability in the UK, Ireland, and beyond.
How does IONA inspire ‘customer love’?
Customers love our product because it helps solve real pain points they’re facing, like severe labor shortages. Logistics companies are excited that drones can take over inefficient routes, freeing up people for tasks only humans can do. Our customers have also uncovered new uses for our system beyond last-mile delivery, like transporting parcels overnight to remote areas so drivers can focus on local routes, or redistributing misdirected parcels between depots to improve delivery success and protect their brand image.
Fun Fact:
I wanted to be a stuntman as a kid and I can still do hand stands and back flips. I’ve always been drawn to extremes—whether it’s sky diving from very high altitudes or scuba diving into the deep. Turns out, building a startup feels a lot like both: part free fall, part deep dive, and the thrill of navigating everything in between.
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