Indian drone startup Airbound has raised $8.65 million in a seed round led by Lachy Groom, co-founder of Physical Intelligence.
Other participants included Humba Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and senior executives from Tesla, SpaceX, and Anduril.
Previously, the startup raised $1.7 million in a seed round led by Lightspeed, bringing its total funding to over $10 million.
The fresh capital will be used to expand Airbound’s fleet of ultra-light, rocket-inspired drones, strengthen pilot delivery programs with private hospitals, and advance its vision of achieving near-zero-cost parcel deliveries, aiming to bring delivery costs down to just one cent per package.
Founded in 2020 by Naman Pushp, who was only 15 years old at the time, Airbound has developed a tail-sitter drone built with a carbon fiber frame and a blended-wing-body design. This unique structure allows vertical takeoff like a rocket and efficient forward flight using just two propellers — significantly reducing energy use and delivery expenses.
By removing the need for human drivers and minimizing total payload weight, Airbound claims to reduce energy costs by up to 20 times per kilometer compared to traditional quadcopters. The aerodynamic design further boosts lift efficiency and cuts thrust requirements, making drone-based deliveries far more practical and sustainable.
With this funding, Airbound plans to scale production, expand operations, and demonstrate the viability of ultra-low-cost drone logistics across both urban and suburban markets, setting the stage for a new era in last-mile delivery.
