Skye Air raises $5mn for drone logistics in India

Airbound has raised $8.65 million in seed funding, led by Lachy Groom, co-founder of Physical Intelligence, with participation from Humba Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and senior leaders from Tesla, SpaceX, and Anduril. The new funding will support manufacturing scale-up, a pilot programme with Narayana Health in Bengaluru, and preparations for broader commercial rollout and international expansion. To date, Airbound has raised over USD 10 million in total and currently employs a 50-member team. Founded in 2020 by Naman Pushp at the age of 15, the startup is developing an ultra-light, tail-sitter, blended-wing-body aircraft called the TRT that takes off vertically like a rocket and transitions to efficient forward flight like an airplane. The drone’s carbon-fibre frame and streamlined aerostructure enhance aerodynamic efficiency by eliminating heavy moving parts, significantly reducing energy consumption and delivery costs. Airbound aims to make one-cent deliveries achievable, targeting a drop in delivery costs from ₹24 to below ₹5 by 2026. The company’s pilot programme with Narayana Health focuses on transporting blood samples, medical test kits, and other critical supplies, carrying out up to ten deliveries daily. Airbound plans to scale production from one to over 100 drones a day and reach one million deliveries per day globally by mid-2027. It is also in discussions with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to obtain necessary approvals while expanding into quick commerce, food delivery, and “a few other smaller areas of last-mile” delivery. Source: https://lnkd.in/gw8vqN8S | https://lnkd.in/gcXkwRZc #DroneNews #DailyNews #DroneHelpline #Airbound #SeedFunding #TRT #Tailsitter #DroneDelivery #OneCentDelivery #LastMileDelivery #AutonomousDelivery #AerialLogistics #DroneTechnology #DroneInnovation #StartupIndia #DroneIndustry

Indian healthcare logistics drone manufacturer Airbound has successfully closed an $8.6 million seed funding round led by Physical Intelligence co-founder Lachy Groom, with participation from Humba Ventures, existing investor Lightspeed, and senior executives from Tesla, Anduril, and Ather Energy. The capital will be deployed to scale drone manufacturing capabilities, enhance fleet reliability, and expand operations beyond medical deliveries into broader commercial applications. Founded in 2023 by Naman Pushp and Faraaz Baig, Airbound manufactures proprietary blended wing body tailsitter drones capable of covering 37-kilometer ranges while reducing delivery costs. The startup has announced a three month pilot partnership with Narayana Health to conduct daily medical deliveries, including blood samples and essential supplies. With over $10 million raised to date and a 50 member team, Airbound is positioning itself as a key player in India's emerging drone logistics sector. Read more:https://lnkd.in/eTVDDm-g Follow Startupstag for the latest updates on Indian and International startups #Airbound #DroneDelivery #HealthcareLogistics #SeedFunding #StartupIndia #MedicalLogistics #DroneTechnology #HealthTech #LogisticsTech #Innovation #VentureCapital #IndianStartups

🚀 Big news! Nalwa Aero, an AIC T-Hub Spacetech startup, becomes India’s first company to secure DGCA’s Design Organisation Approval (DOA) in the 5-seater+ eVTOL category. This milestone marks: - Made-in-India innovation - Modular platforms for healthcare, logistics, defence & more - A new era of air taxis & aerial mobility Congrats to Team Nalwa Aero for redefining the future of flight! Learn more about the AIC T-Hub Foundation Spacetech Program: https://lnkd.in/dRYEwN3s Want the latest buzz from T-Hub? Follow T-Hub Events and T-Hub Partners for all things exciting! Kuljeet Sandhu #AICTHub #SpaceTech #StartupIndia #Aviation #Innovation

🚀 Startup Spotlight 🚀 Robo.ai - To offer a seamless, sustainable, and efficient urban air transportation network by integrating autonomous eVTOLs with an AI-driven ride-sharing platform and vertiport infrastructure. 🔍 Company Overview - CEO: Elshad Agaev - Year Founded: Information not available - Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Team Size: N/A - Webpage: https://www.robo.ai 🎯 What They Do - One-line Description: Robo.ai, through its joint venture RoVTOL, is developing an AI-powered ecosystem for autonomous urban air mobility. - Target Customers: Urban commuters and businesses in Dubai seeking high-speed, premium transportation and logistics solutions. - Industry Verticals: Urban Air Mobility (UAM), Aerospace, Transportation and Logistics, Smart City Infrastructure 🚀 Achievements & Status - Current Stage/Status: Joint venture established, in the development and infrastructure planning phase. - Major Milestones: Announced joint venture with Ewatt Aerospace to establish Dubai-based eVTOL company RoVTOL. - Basic Growth Metrics: Information not publicly available 💡 Competitive Edge - How They Differentiate: Robo.ai's joint venture RoVTOL focuses on global sales of diverse eVTOL aircraft models and plans an advanced eVTOL assembly facility in the UAE for localized production, contrasting competitors primarily focused on proprietary aircraft. - Key Technological Advantage: Technological advantage lies in their AI platform for managing an autonomous fleet. Business advantage comes from the strategic joint venture with Ewatt Aerospace and their focus on establishing a comprehensive network in Dubai, a city supporting such innovations. 📈 Funding & Partnerships - Total Funding Raised: Information not publicly available - Latest Funding Round: Information not publicly available - Key Investors: - Key Partnerships/Collaborations: Ewatt Aerospace (Joint Venture for RoVTOL) 👥 Leadership & Team - CEO Background: Information not available - Key Members: Slava Kogan (President) 📊 Market & Competition - Market Positioning: Positioning as a key player in the emerging eVTOL market in Dubai and UAE, leveraging existing technology adapted for the local market and aiming to be integral to the regional urban air mobility ecosystem. - Geographic Focus: Dubai and the United Arab Emirates - Main Competitors: Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation Based on database updated on: 2025-09-10 #Innovation #AI #Startups Powered by #WeeklyVentures “Spot an error? Share your feedback to help us improve!”

🚀 Latvia’s military technology sector has huge export potential! As highlighted by Artis Pabriks in an interview with the news agency LETA, many Latvian drone manufacturers are startups developing innovative solutions. However, without stable orders and government support, their growth remains limited. 📈 Export markets are being entered step by step, but to reach the next level, a closer cooperation model between the state and entrepreneurs is needed. Currently, the Military Technology, Drone and Robotics Association (MilTech) unites 30 companies, including 90% of Latvia’s drone manufacturers – covering air, land, and sea technologies. Read the full interview in Dienas Bizness, published with LETA. ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/d6hNxTyf

"Munich’s Futurail Secures €7.5M to Drive the Future of Autonomous Rail Mobility Across Europe." German DeepTech startup Futurail has raised €7.5 million in seed funding to bring autonomous technology to trains, marking a bold step toward Europe’s mission to shift mobility from road to rail. The round co-led by Asterion Ventures and Leap435, with participation from EIT Urban Mobility, Zero Infinity Partners and Heroic Ventures, positions Futurail at the heart of the EU’s sustainable transport transformation. Founded in 2023 by former leaders from Tesla, Argo AI, and Edge Case, Futurail is building FUTURAIL Driver, a full autonomy stack that can be integrated into both new and existing trains. This technology aims to tackle Europe’s shortage of train drivers, reduce operational costs, and make rail services more reliable, flexible, and accessible. The system even enables the reopening of previously unprofitable routes, revitalising regional networks and expanding capacity across the continent. “Just as electric traction once replaced steam, autonomy is the defining technology of this century for rail,” said Dr. Matthias Kempf, Founding Partner at Leap435. CEO Alex Haag, who previously led Tesla’s Autopilot team, added: “We founded Futurail to bring the same revolutionary potential of autonomy to a 200 year old industry and turn rail into the backbone of sustainable mobility.” Futurail’s vision aligns perfectly with the EU’s Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, which targets reduced emissions, seamless cross border connectivity, and a massive modal shift to rail. With partnerships already underway with Lohr Group in Europe and Parallel Systems in the U.S., Futurail is quickly becoming a transatlantic force for rail innovation. By combining AI autonomy with Europe’s climate goals, Futurail is set to move millions of passengers and tons of freight off roads and onto rails, potentially avoiding over 10 million tons of CO₂ annually. With €7.5 million now secured, the company will accelerate hiring, deepen collaborations with OEMs and operators, and seek regulatory approval for its first real-world deployment, depot autonomy. #MobilityTech #SustainableTransport #RailInnovation #AutonomousTrains #DeepTech #EUInnovation #SmartMobility #AI #CleanTransport #GreenTransition #FutureOfRail #TechInvestment #ESG #cxolanes #EuropeTech

🚀 Startup India & DPIIT have launched the iCreate Drone Challenge, inviting ambitious drone innovators to break new ground in aerial tech. - From autonomous navigation to payload delivery and surveillance use cases, this challenge covers exciting drone-driven domains. - Selected teams will receive funding, expert mentorship, and access to incubation & infrastructure support. This initiative aims to accelerate India’s drone ecosystem and promote Make in India in aerospace tech. - Early-stage startups & student innovators can apply and showcase their capabilities. - The challenge is a massive step towards building self-reliant, next-gen drone solutions. - Get ready to take flight, India’s skies are open for innovation! #DroneChallenge2025 #StartupIndia #iCreate #DPIIT #Innovation #AerospaceTech #DroneStartups #MakeInIndia #FutureOfFlight #TechForIndia #IndianStartups #DeepTech #AtmanirbharBharat #DroneInnovation #AIandRobotics #DigitalIndia #Entrepreneurship #TechEcosystem #SmartIndia #DroneRevolution #bharatedge

From Plates to Planes: Reimagining India’s Skies with LAT Aerospace: In a visionary shift from simplifying food delivery to transforming regional connectivity, Deepinder Goyal the co-founder of Zomato , has launched a bold new aviation chapter—LAT AerospaceThis trailblazing startup aims to overhaul the way India flies by turning overlooked airstrips into everyday “air-stops” and making flying as routine as hopping on a bus. Bridging Gaps, Building Access: Despite boasting over 450 airstrips, India uses just about 150 for commercial flights—leaving two-thirds of its aviation potential untapped. LAT Aerospace aims to fix that by deploying 12–24-seat STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) aircraft to serve Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities with frequent, affordable flights. Imagine—no long commutes to metro airports, no security lines; just walk in and fly. “Buses in the Sky” for Everyday Travel: Co-founder Surobhi Das—former Zomato Executive—captures the dream best: “Think buses in the sky.” With compact air-stops no bigger than parking lots, LAT wants flying to be intuitive and accessible. Beyond Flights: Indigenous Propulsion Innovation: LAT is not stopping at aircraft design. They’ve launched a propulsion research team in Bengaluru focused on developing Made-in-India gas turbine engines—an ambitious pivot toward aerospace self-reliance. Fueling the Dream: Capital & Talent: Backed by an initial Rs. 425 Crores in funding—including Rs. 170 Crores personal contribution from Deepinder Goyal—LAT Aerospace is not only well-funded but also actively recruiting engineers passionate about building the future. Their invitation is clear: “If you’ve ever built turbines, rotors, or control systems…and want to help rewrite history—join us. Why This Matters: Democratizing Air Travel: LAT's vision promises to expand affordable aviation to towns that currently rely on time-consuming road and rail journeys. Next-Gen Infrastructure: Their compact “air-stops” challenge the dominance of large, congested airports and unlock scalability. Homegrown Innovation: By building propulsion technology domestically, LAT is pushing India toward aerospace autonomy. Inspiration for the Ecosystem: This move signals what Indian entrepreneurship can achieve when audacity meets engineering. Putting It All Together: With LAT Aerospace, Deepinder Goyal and Surabhi Das are scripting more than a startup story—they’re plotting the future of regional aviation in India. By fusing underutilized infrastructure with cutting-edge aircraft and indigenous propulsion, they’re propelling a vision where air travel is no longer a privilege, but a part of daily life—even in the smallest towns. If India truly aims to soar, ventures like LAT Aerospace could define the skyline of tomorrow.

Airbound, an autonomous delivery logistics firm specialising in blended-wing-body aircraft, today announced $8.65 million in seed funding and a pilot partnership with Narayana Health. The round was led by Lachy Groom, co-founder of Physical Intelligence, with participation from Humba Ventures and continued participation from Lightspeed. Read more at https://lnkd.in/gS_2cDYU Naman Pushp | Devi Shetty | #DroneDeliveryIndia #MedicalLogistics #BlendedWingBody #AutonomousLogistics #HealthcareInnovation #StartupFunding #LogisticsTech #CarbonFibreAircraft #IndiaStartups #DroneEconomics #CriticalDeliveries #TechForHealthcare

Is Pivotal Helix eVTOL a First Responder in the Sky? https://buff.ly/dMFpSka Palo Alto, Calif.–based startup sees paramedics as natural customers