India’s Airbound Bags $8.65M To Build Rocket-Like Drones For One-Cent Deliveries
Airbound, a rising drone startup from India, has made headlines after securing $8.65 million in seed funding to fuel its mission of creating rocket-like drones capable of one-cent deliveries. The funding marks a major milestone for India’s drone tech ecosystem and signals a potential revolution in low-cost, ultra-efficient logistics.
Image Credits:Airbound
Backed By Top Global Investors
The fresh round was led by Physical Intelligence co-founder Lachy Groom, with participation from Humba Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and senior leaders from Tesla, SpaceX, and Anduril. This strong investor lineup underscores global confidence in Airbound’s breakthrough technology and its vision of reshaping last-mile delivery.
Founded By A Teenage Innovator
Airbound’s story is as inspiring as its innovation. Founded in 2020 by Naman Pushp, who was just 15 years old at the time, the company has grown into a serious player in the drone delivery space. Now at 20, Pushp leads a team developing next-generation drones using blended-wing-body and tail-sitter designs.
These drones launch upright like rockets and transition into efficient forward flight — a concept rarely seen in commercial drone technology. Built with carbon fiber frames, they’re designed to be both lightweight and powerful, cutting operational costs drastically compared to traditional delivery systems.
How Airbound’s Rocket-Like Drones Work
Unlike typical quadcopters, Airbound’s drones feature two propellers and a blended-wing design. This setup allows the drones to take off vertically, conserve energy mid-flight, and land precisely — making them ideal for dense urban or rural deliveries.
According to Pushp, the key lies in rethinking how energy is used to move goods. “You need four kilograms of drone to lift one kilogram of payload, which is insane to me,” he said, emphasizing that Airbound’s aerodynamic approach changes this equation completely.
One-Cent Deliveries Could Change Everything
Currently, most small parcels in India — typically under 3 kilograms — are delivered by electric two-wheelers. These vehicles, weighing around 150 kilograms (331 pounds), cost roughly ₹2 (about $0.02) per kilometer in energy. Airbound’s TRT drone, designed specifically for light payloads, reduces total transport weight by nearly 30 times.
That weight reduction translates to a 20-fold drop in energy cost, potentially enabling one-cent-per-kilometer deliveries. By eliminating the human driver and optimizing aerodynamics, Airbound aims to make one-cent drone delivery a practical reality — not a distant dream.
Beyond Cost: Efficiency, Speed, And Sustainability
Airbound’s innovation isn’t just about cutting costs. It’s about sustainability and efficiency. Drone-based logistics could reduce carbon emissions, minimize traffic congestion, and deliver critical goods faster — especially in remote areas with poor infrastructure.
The company’s upcoming pilot project with a private hospital will test its ability to deliver medical supplies safely and affordably. If successful, Airbound could set new benchmarks for healthcare logistics, e-commerce, and emergency aid distribution.
Industry Experts See A Paradigm Shift
Experts believe Airbound’s approach could redefine the economics of drone logistics. While competitors focus on endurance and range, Airbound is tackling energy efficiency per payload, which could be the true bottleneck in scaling drone delivery.
By focusing on small, light deliveries — where margins are thin — Airbound positions itself at the sweet spot of cost innovation and sustainability. Its drones promise not only affordability but also speed, making them suitable for industries ranging from e-commerce and healthcare to local retail.
The Road Ahead For Airbound
Airbound’s $8.65 million seed funding is just the beginning. The startup plans to expand R&D, strengthen manufacturing capabilities, and push ahead with regulatory approvals for large-scale operations. The next steps will involve fine-tuning drone efficiency, building infrastructure for deployment, and demonstrating consistent, real-world performance.
Pushp’s long-term vision is bold — a future where one-cent deliveries are accessible worldwide. With backing from top investors and aerospace veterans, Airbound could become a global leader in affordable drone logistics.
Why This Matters
As global demand for faster, cheaper, and greener logistics grows, Airbound’s one-cent delivery model could be a game-changer. It represents a fusion of aerodynamic engineering, AI-driven control systems, and cost-efficient design — all aimed at democratizing access to drone technology.
The startup’s success could inspire a new generation of Indian deep-tech entrepreneurs, showing that world-class innovation doesn’t just come from Silicon Valley — it can take off from anywhere, even from the ambitions of a 15-year-old with a dream to change how the world moves goods.
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