Unmannd, a Bengaluru-based defence tech startup specialising in autonomous drones, has secured $2 million in pre-seed funding, marking a significant milestone in its quest to revolutionise aerial logistics and defence systems. The round was led by Speciale Invest and Accel, underscoring the growing investor confidence in India’s burgeoning defence technology sector.
The funding will propel Unmannd’s two flagship systems—Titan and Fury—towards commercialisation and market readiness. Titan, an aerial logistics platform designed to transport supplies, has already completed development and received qualification from the Indian defence forces. The company is now eyeing contracts from the Indian military, a testament to its rapid progress since its inception in February 2024.
“The funding will help us accelerate the commercialisation of our aerial logistics platform Titan, take our interceptor system, Fury, from proof of concept (PoC) to market, and begin exploring exports to international markets,” said Yeshwanth Reddy, co-founder and CEO of Unmannd. The capital will also be used to expand the startup’s engineering team, a critical step in scaling its operations.
Fury, Unmannd’s defence system, is engineered to detect and neutralise hostile drones. According to Reddy, the system can identify enemy drones from up to 30 kilometres away and deploy interceptor drones that travel at speeds of 300 km per hour. This capability addresses a pressing need in modern warfare, where drone threats are increasingly sophisticated and prevalent.
The defence industry is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the demand for autonomous, adaptive, and intelligent systems. “The defense industry is undergoing its most significant transformation in decades. What we’re seeing is a shift toward systems that can learn, adapt, and make decisions independently — capabilities that will define the next generation of defense technology,” said Prashanth Prakash, partner at Accel.
Unmannd’s success comes amid a surge in investor interest in drone startups. In June 2024, Raphe mPhibr, another defence startup, raised $100 million in a round led by General Catalyst, valuing the company at $900 million. Additionally, Titan Capital, a seed-stage venture capital firm, announced the launch of a specialised investment vertical focused on India’s defence and strategic technology startups.
This wave of investment highlights the strategic importance of drone technology in modern defence strategies. As nations grapple with evolving threats, startups like Unmannd are at the forefront of developing innovative solutions that enhance operational capabilities and national security.
Unmannd’s journey from inception to securing significant funding and military contracts in just a few months exemplifies the dynamic pace of India’s defence tech sector. With its cutting-edge technology and strategic vision, the startup is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of aerial logistics and defence systems, both domestically and internationally.