Chennai-based drone-tech startup Zuppa has raised $1.5 million in a bridge funding round led by Rahul Dewan, founder of Srijan Technologies.
The round also saw participation from Ajay Gupta of Capital Foods and the Mangwani Family Office, previously associated with Aquapharm Chemicals.
The fresh capital will be utilized to enhance R&D capabilities, expand Zuppa’s patent portfolio, and broaden its reach in the defence and dual-use drone technology sectors. The startup is focused on building indigenous, highly reliable drone systems designed to operate in GPS-denied and low-connectivity environments, which are critical for tactical and remote missions.
Founded in 2008 by Venkatesh Sai and Sai Pattabiram, a father-son duo with deep expertise in aerospace engineering, Zuppa has developed fully homegrown drone intelligence platforms. These include flight control systems, vision-guided navigation tools, and secure cyber-physical infrastructure.
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Zuppa’s technology has already been deployed in several strategic scenarios, including post-Operation Sindoor missions, where legacy drone systems fell short. The startup’s growing suite of patents and proven track record in high-stakes environments position it as a strong contender in India’s evolving defence-tech ecosystem.
In addition to commercial deployment, Zuppa is also actively engaged with government and academic institutions to shape policy frameworks and compliance standards for the country’s fast-expanding drone industry.
