Hyderabad-based dronetech startup Marut Drones raises $6.2 million in funding

  • Funding and Focus: Marut Drones, a Hyderabad-based startup specializing in drone technology, raised $6.2 million in a Series A funding round led by Lok Capital, aiming to enhance its agricultural solutions and explore applications in disaster management and surveillance.

  • Product and Manufacturing Development: The investment will accelerate the development of advanced agricultural drones and support the goal of manufacturing 3,000 drones annually, with a target revenue of Rs 1,000 crore within five years.

  • Service Expansion and Rural Reach: Marut Drones plans to expand its network of service hubs in tier 2 and 3 cities to provide direct drone services to rural customers, promoting technology adoption in agriculture.

  • Training and Innovation Efforts: The startup is focusing on skill development by launching 17 new drone academies to train operators and foster entrepreneurship, while also increasing R&D for precision agriculture applications.

  • Employment Generation: With a workforce of over 200 and a network of trained pilots across 14 states, Marut Drones aims to stimulate local economies and create jobs in rural India, partnering with agribusinesses to broaden its impact.

Hyderabad-based drone technology startup Marut Drones has raised $6.2 million in a Series A funding round led by Lok Capital.

The startup, known for its DGCA certification in manufacturing and training, is a key player in India’s growing drone ecosystem, focusing primarily on agricultural solutions and exploring disaster management and surveillance applications.

Investment to drive product development and manufacturing

Founded by Prem Kumar Vislawath, Suraj Peddi, and Sai Kumar Chinthala, Marut Drones plans to use the funding to accelerate the development of advanced agricultural drones that cater to the specific needs of farmers.

With agriculture as a central focus, the investment will also support the startup’s goal of manufacturing 3,000 drones annually.

Prem Kumar Vislawath, Marut Drones’ CEO and Co-Founder, said, “This significant investment reinforces Marut Drones’ commitment to empowering Indian farmers and developing applications for aggregating drone-based services for institutions across sectors. The fresh capital will also allow us to make investments in building our team, increasing our manufacturing capacity, and reaching a revenue target of Rs 1,000 crore within the next five years.”

Expanding reach in rural India with new service hubs

In addition to product development, Marut Drones aims to broaden its reach in tier 2 and 3 cities by expanding its network of channel partners and service centers.

The startup’s Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) model will enable partnerships that deliver drone services directly to rural customers, creating service hubs that bring technology closer to remote areas.

“We’re excited to partner with Marut to bring solutions to farmers and the broader rural economy,” Krishnan said. “Drones for agriculture are a novel technology that can secure crop health, conserve water, and increase yield, while also providing income opportunities for village-level entrepreneurs,” said Hari Krishnan, director of Lok Capital.

Focus on training and innovation

The startup is also investing in skill development and research through its network of drone academies and collaboration with leading Indian institutions.

It plans to launch 17 new drone academies to train skilled operators and foster drone entrepreneurship, which will be key for broader adoption and growth.

These academies aim to build a trained workforce equipped to operate agricultural drones, contributing to safer and more efficient farming practices.

Additionally, Marut Drones is intensifying its R&D efforts to develop innovative applications in crop monitoring and direct seeding, crucial functions for precision agriculture. These advancements are expected to reduce input costs for farmers and improve crop yields.

Expanding employment opportunities and creating rural impact

With over 200 team members and a fleet of 750 drones managed by more than 1,000 trained drone pilots across 14 states, Marut Drones aims to strengthen its role as a driver of employment in rural India.

The startup’s strategic expansion in tier 2 and 3 cities is expected to generate more jobs and stimulate local economies, providing rural communities with the tools needed to embrace technology-led agriculture.

Marut Drones is actively seeking partnerships with agribusinesses, agri-entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders in India’s agriculture industry to broaden the reach of its drone services.


Here’s a summary of the relevant details from the provided information regarding Marut Drones:

Startup Information

  • Startup Name: Marut Drones
  • Location: Hyderabad, India
  • Focus Area: Drone technology, primarily agricultural solutions, disaster management, and surveillance applications.
  • Business Model: Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS)

Founders

  • Prem Kumar Vislawath – CEO and Co-Founder
  • Suraj Peddi – Co-Founder
  • Sai Kumar Chinthala – Co-Founder

Funding Details

  • Amount Raised: $6.2 million
  • Funding Series: Series A
  • Lead Investor: Lok Capital

Investment Use

  • Accelerating product development and manufacturing of advanced agricultural drones.
  • Increasing manufacturing capacity to 3,000 drones annually.
  • Expanding reach by setting up new service hubs in tier 2 and 3 cities.
  • Investing in skill development and launching new drone academies.
  • Enhancing R&D efforts for innovative precision agriculture applications.

Employment and Impact

  • Current Employees: Over 200
  • Number of Drones: 750
  • Trained Drone Pilots: More than 1,000 across 14 states
  • Goal: Strengthen employment in rural India and create local impact through technology-led agriculture.

This encapsulates the key aspects of Marut Drones as discussed in the document.

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