About Drones sector in India
The Drones sector in India comprises 812 companies, including 175 funded companies having collectively raised $761M in venture capital money and private equity. Out of these, 37 are Series A+ funded.
Drones sector in India has seen 14 acquisitions and 5 IPOs.
This sector includes drones are defined as any powered unmanned aerial heavier-than-air vehicle (manual or autonomous) and excludes unmanned ground, undersea and surface vehicles.
Drones sector is also known as Unmanned Aerial Systems, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Flying Robots or Quadcopter.
Includes manufacturers of consumer, commercial and military, fixed-wing, rotor and tethered unmanned aerial vehicles; providers of software for general operation and control, navigation, autopilot, collision avoidance, fleet management, airspace and flight path mapping; UAV-enabled service providers such as drone/drone pilot marketplaces and rental platforms; drone hardware parts, accessories and peripherals including spare parts, payloads and sensors; drone detection and anti-drone technologies including anti-drone geofencing companies. Excludes unmanned ground vehicles (military, commercial and consumer RC toys), unmanned underwater vehicles; online stores in multi-brand drone retail; drone resellers and distributors; drone-focused online discussion and review forums, and drone-focused social media platforms.
Top Drones Companies in India
There are 812 Drones startups in India which include Raphe, BotLab Dynamics, Newspace Research and Technologies, Zen Technologies, BonV Aero. Out of these, 175 startups are funded, with 37 having secured Series A+ funding.
2026 has seen the creation of 12 Drones startups in India. Over the past 10 years, an average of 54 new companies have been launched annually. Notably, several of these startups have been founded by alumni of IIT Kanpur, BITS Pilani and IIT Bombay.
Here is the list of top Drones startups in India
1. Raphe
Manufacturer of carbon fiber composite products and unmanned aerial vehicles. It focuses on research and development, utilizing technologies for the aerospace industry. It has infrastructure for additive, subtractive, PCB A, and composite manufacturing. The company emphasizes product and process innovation through end-to-end manufacturing.
Key facts about Raphe
- Founded Year: 2017
- Location: Noida (India)
- Stage: Series B
- Total Funding till date: $154M
- Investors: General Catalyst, Ascent Capital and 59 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series B, Mar 28, 2025, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 68/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 6 of 1,237 Competitors
Provider of customized drone light shows for corporate, government, and private events. It combines technology, innovation, and precision, the team designs, choreographs, and executes 3D animated drone displays that captivate audiences and elevate brand storytelling. It provides end-to-end services including pre-production, live show execution, and post-production. Its work spans corporate events, weddings, and large-scale celebrations, with customizable shows.
Key facts about BotLab Dynamics
- Founded Year: 2016
- Location: Delhi (India)
- Stage: Series A
- Total Funding till date: $14.3M
- Investors: Florintree, Dharana and 14 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series A, Apr 17, 2025, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 66/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 22 Competitors
Manufacturer of uncrewed aerial systems for military and civilian applications. These systems include hybrid multi-rotor aircraft, tethered electric platforms, and loitering munitions. The technology incorporates intelligent mesh networks and autonomous ground interdiction capabilities. These platforms support parallel task execution and dynamic retasking for various operational requirements.
Key facts about Newspace Research and Technologies
- Founded Year: 2018
- Location: Bengaluru (India)
- Stage: Series B
- Total Funding till date: $73.2M
- Investors: Hda Tech Growth, QRG Investments and Holdings and 100 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series B, Aug 01, 2024, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 66/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 5 of 379 Competitors
Provider of defence training simulators, combat training centers, and anti-drone systems. The company delivers live fire, virtual, and constructive training solutions. It offers anti-drone systems that perform drone detection, classification, and threat neutralization. The company provides target systems, firing range control systems, and indoor shooting ranges.
Key facts about Zen Technologies
- Founded Year: 1993
- Location: Hyderabad (India)
- Stage: Public
- Investors: Emerge Capital, Motilal Oswal Asset Management Company and 3 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, Aug 24, 2024, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 66/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 3 of 258 Competitors
5. BonV Aero
Manufacturer of advanced unmanned aerial vehicles with heavy-payload capacity for logistics, defence, and high-altitude operations. The company focuses on developing cutting-edge drone technology for mission-critical applications. It's drone solutions are designed to promote electric aircrafts and reduce carbon emissions. The company operates in the aviation and aerospace component manufacturing industry.
Key facts about BonV Aero
- Founded Year: 2021
- Location: Bhubaneswar (India)
- Stage: Seed
- Total Funding till date: $6.43M
- Investors: Inflection Point Ventures, Headstart and 70 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Seed, Aug 14, 2025, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 65/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 88 Competitors
Companies founded year-on-year in the Drones sector in India
12 new startups have been founded so far in 2026 in the Drones sector in India. 82 Drones startups in India were founded in 2018 - this is the most number of startups founded in any year in the last 10 years.
- Total Number of Companies
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | 12 |
2025 | 19 |
2024 | 40 |
2023 | 63 |
2022 | 75 |
2021 | 72 |
2020 | 70 |
2019 | 70 |
2018 | 82 |
2017 | 43 |
Stage-wise distribution of Drones sector companies in India
Out of the total 812 Drones companies in India, 175 have secured funding. Among them, 37 have reached Series A or higher, and 26 to Series B or beyond.
Founded - 812
Funded - 175
Series A+ - 37
Series B+ - 26
Series C+ - 20
Company Stage | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Founded | 812 |
Funded | 175 |
Series A+ | 37 |
Series B+ | 26 |
Series C+ | 20 |
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Funding Trends in the Drones sector in India
Total funding year-on-year in the Drones sector in India
The Drones sector in India saw a total funding of more than $754M in the last 10 years. The most amount of funding was in 2024 at more than $261M. There has been a total funding of $17.4M in 2026 till date.
- Total Funding
Year | Total Funding |
|---|---|
2026 | $17.4M |
2025 | $183M |
2024 | $261M |
2023 | $126M |
2022 | $85.4M |
2021 | $40.2M |
2020 | $15M |
2019 | $5.61M |
2018 | $8.53M |
2017 | $10.3M |
Recent Funding Rounds in Drones in India
In the year 2026, till June 2026, Drones companies in India have raised $14M in equity funding across 13 rounds.
In the same period last year (i.e. till June 2025), Drones companies in India had raised $162M across 26 rounds.
So, 2026 has seen a 91.35% drop in funding in Drones companies in India as compared to 2025.
Here are some recent, important funding rounds in Drones companies in India:
Company | Round Raised | Amount Raised | Funding Date | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Seed | 2169 | Jun 05, 2026 | - | |
Seed | 2872 | May 05, 2026 | ||
Seed | 3595 | May 04, 2026 | ||
Seed | 5614 | Mar 31, 2026 | ||
Seed | 9308 | Mar 26, 2026 |
Top Investors in Drones in India
Starburst is the top investor in Drones companies in India based on number of companies invested.
Here are some top investors in Drones companies in India:
Investor | Location | Top Portfolio Companies |
|---|---|---|
Los Angeles (United States) | - | |
Coimbatore (India) | ||
Menlo Park (United States) | ||
Bengaluru (India) | ||
Cambridge (United States) |
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M&A activity in Drones sector in India
In the year 2026, till February 2026, 1 acquisition happened in Drones sector in India. Last year, in 2025, a total of 2 acquisitions happened in Drones sector in India.
Here are some recent, important acquisitions in Drones sector in India:
Company | Acquisition Type | Acquisition Date | Acquirers |
|---|---|---|---|
Business Acquisition | Feb 24, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Jun 21, 2025 | ||
Business Acquisition | Feb 15, 2025 | ||
Business Acquisition | Oct 03, 2024 | ||
Business Acquisition | Dec 26, 2023 |
Acquisition trends in Drones sector in India
Here are the acquisition trends in Drones sector in India:
- Total Number of Acquisitions
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | 1 |
2025 | 2 |
2024 | 1 |
2023 | 3 |
2022 | 1 |
2021 | 4 |
2020 | - |
2019 | 2 |
2018 | - |
2017 | - |
IPOs in Drones in India
In the year 2025, till September 2025, 1 IPO happened in Drones sector in India.
Here are some recent, important IPOs in Drones sector in India:
Company | IPO Date | Exchange Symbol |
|---|---|---|
Sep 30, 2025 | National Stock Exchange (NSE) | |
Jul 21, 2023 | National Stock Exchange (NSE) | |
Jul 07, 2023 | National Stock Exchange (NSE), Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) | |
Dec 23, 2022 | Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) | |
Mar 30, 2015 | National Stock Exchange (NSE) |
Colleges which produce the most Drones companies in India
Companies founded by alumni from top colleges in the Drones in India
Most number of Drones startups in India have been founded by alumni from IIT Kanpur, BITS Pilani and IIT Bombay.
College | No. of companies |
|---|---|
IIT Kanpur | 14 |
BITS Pilani | 12 |
IIT Bombay | 11 |
Anna University | 8 |
IIT Delhi | 7 |
IIT Madras | 6 |
Carnegie Mellon University | 5 |
Indian Institute of Science | 5 |
IIT Guwahati | 4 |
Indian School of Business | 4 |
Total funding in Drones companies founded by alumni from top colleges in India
In the last 10 years, IIT Bombay graduates' Drones companies in India have raised the most funding among top colleges. Anna University alumni are second, and Harvard Business School alumni are third.
College | Total Funding |
|---|---|
IIT Bombay | $100M |
Anna University | $50.8M |
Harvard Business School | $49.5M |
IIT Kanpur | $40.1M |
IIT Kharagpur | $17.7M |
IIT Delhi | $17M |
University of Delhi | $15.2M |
IIT Madras | $9.59M |
Carnegie Mellon University | $7.99M |
Indian Institute of Science | $7.37M |
Top News in Drones in India
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Asteria Aerospace demonstrates India’s first micro categoryAsteria Aerospace•Jul 22, 2025•Asteria Aerospace
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Garuda Aerospace sets up agri-drones indigenisation facility near ChennaiYourStory•Jun 14, 2025•Garuda Aerospace
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IG Drones & VoxelSensors Join Forces to Elevate UAV Navigation in GPS-Denied Zones
IndianWeb2•Jun 12, 2025•VoxelSensors, IG Defence
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Skye Air to Launch Drone Deliveries Across Delhi-NCR, Targets 5 Million Shipments in 2025Logistics Insider•Apr 09, 2025•Skye Air
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Garuda Aerospace Invests In Defence Drone Start-up ZuppaThe Hindu•Mar 06, 2025•Garuda Aerospace, ZUPPA
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VC firm Finvolve aims to invest Rs 300-350 Cr in 2025YourStory•Feb 10, 2025•Finvolve, Matter Labs, Samosa Party, Zulu Defence
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Garuda Aerospace to invest Rs 100 Cr to develop Drone City in Andhra PradeshYourStory•Jan 31, 2025•Garuda Aerospace
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Marut Drone-Powered Solutions For Agricultural Intelligence And AutomationElectronicsforyou•Jan 31, 2025•Marut Drones
