News Summary

Indian startup Airbound has secured $8.65 million in seed funding to develop its innovative drone technology aimed at achieving one-cent deliveries. Founded by 20-year-old Naman Pushp, Airbound is pioneering a rocket-like, blended-wing-body aircraft designed to significantly reduce the costs associated with drone deliveries. The funding round was led by Lachy Groom, co-founder of Physical Intelligence, and included participation from Humba Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and senior leaders from Tesla, SpaceX, and Anduril. Airbound’s drones use a unique tail-sitter design, enabling them to take off like rockets and fly like planes, which improves aerodynamic efficiency and reduces energy costs. The startup is conducting a pilot program with Narayana Health in Bengaluru and plans to expand its operations internationally, targeting the U.S. market in the next three years. The latest funding will help Airbound scale its manufacturing capabilities and reduce delivery costs to less than ₹5 per delivery by 2026.