Prof. Flavio Noca dreams about testing drones in free flight. Guillaume Catry, then research engineer at Flavio's lab begin to work on a prototype of fan array.

The first module of 3x3 fans is assembled and tested. Early results are encouraging even though the useful section is too small (240mm x 240mm) to be used for free flight testing. Prof Mory Gharib (Caltech) and Flavio Noca meet and discuss about the concept. Prof Gharib is interest to host the first real scale WindShaper at Caltech CAST (Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies). Luca, Sergio and Alberic join Guillaume to work on the 'WindShape' project.

After one year of development, the founding team has created the first engineering model of the WindShaper with a size of 3x3 modules (0.75m x 0.75m). The company WindShape LLC is incorporated in Geneva, Switzerland.

In October 2017, WindShape inaugurates the first WindShaper, named WindShaper One by Prof Mory Gharib. WindShaper One is a 12x12 module array (3m x 3m) and comprises 1'296 fans. It will remain the largest WindShaper in the world for the 5 years to come.

After the success of WindShaper One, WindShape begins the commercialization the WindShaper technology. The roles of the founder are getting better defined: Guillaume oversees strategy and commercialization, Alberic takes the sales and communication, Sergio the engineering and Luca the production. Nicolas joins the team as a founder and leads the R&D activities.

WindShape moves to its first offices in Geneva, Switzerland. The team grows to 6 people.

WindShape begins the development of a US subsidiary in Syracuse NY after being awarded a $500,000 prize money from the famous GENIUS NY startup competition. WindShape hires its first US employee.

WindShape team grows to 9 people. The company reaches profitability.

As we identified a unique opportunity and site to develop our drone test center business in the US, we decided to relocate to Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Shipping the 50th WindShaper in October 2024 to Mississippi State University, a 12x12 (3m x 3m) unit similar in size to "WindShaper One". At this point, WindShaper has assembled 16'280 fans.

The team reaches 20+ people and the company is relocating to a much larger space in Vernier, with 350m2 of office space and 650m2 of laboratories and workshops.

WindShape inaugurate a new test center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The test center of 2000m² comprises 8 labs and is equipped to test all aspects of drones.