Drone manufacturer Garuda Aerospace has secured ₹100 crore in a Series B funding round led by Venture Catalysts (Vcats++), pushing its valuation to $250 million. The capital will be directed toward boosting manufacturing capacity, enhancing research in defence-grade drone systems, and launching a new design centre.
Based in Chennai, Garuda Aerospace operates in both commercial and defence drone sectors. The company plans to speed up the development of a dedicated research and testing centre for unmanned aerial systems. With more than 20 patents under its belt, it also aims to grow its intellectual property portfolio and scale production.
“This round of funding marks a key step forward for us,” said Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO of Garuda Aerospace. “It gives us the resources to accelerate our manufacturing scale and drive innovation in next-gen drone technologies. As we look to expand globally, this investment supports our focus on developing high-quality drone systems that serve India’s defence needs and drive technological progress.”
Former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni remains closely associated with the company as both a brand ambassador and investor, contributing to its visibility and outreach. Garuda Aerospace is active across several industries including agriculture, infrastructure, logistics, and public services. It has formed partnerships with major Indian firms such as Tata, HUL, and Reliance to support drone deployment and localise key components.
Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, Co-founder and Managing Director at Venture Catalysts, commented, “We’re proud to back Garuda Aerospace at this critical stage. The company is playing a pivotal role in advancing India’s defence manufacturing and building global capabilities in drone tech. We believe Garuda will help position India as a leading player in this space by the end of the decade.”
The investment arrives at a time of growing momentum in India’s drone sector, supported by initiatives such as the Drone Rules 2021 and the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, both aimed at encouraging domestic innovation and reducing reliance on imports. Demand is rising across areas like precision farming, mapping, surveillance, and logistics, with both government and private players driving growth.
