Chennai’s drone intelligence startup Zuppa has raised $1.5 million in bridge funding. The round was backed by a group of experienced entrepreneurs and industry veterans, signaling strong confidence in the company’s technology. Investors include Rahul Dewan, founder of Srijan Technologies and Sangam Talks; Ajay Gupta of Capital Foods; and the Mangwani Family Office, formerly linked with Aquapharm Chemicals.
This fresh investment will be used to strengthen Zuppa’s research and development capabilities. The company is focusing on expanding its presence in India’s rapidly modernising defence sector by offering advanced unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
Supporting India’s Defence
Zuppa builds fully indigenous drone navigation and control systems that work even without GPS or strong internet signals. These conditions often arise during military operations or natural disasters, where reliable tech is critical. The startup’s innovations include AI-powered targeting systems, secure infrastructure, and vision-based navigation tools.
Founded over ten years ago by aerospace engineers Sai Pattabiram and Venkatesh Sai, Zuppa has been developing solutions tailored specifically for Indian army needs. The startup’s tech has already been deployed in critical operations, where it helped bridge key gaps in existing systems.
Founders Speak on Growth
“This is not just funding, it’s validation of our work,” said Sai Pattabiram, the managing director of Zuppa. He emphasized that the backers are all entrepreneurs who have built and scaled successful companies, adding credibility to the investment.
Co-founder and technical director Venkatesh Sai added that Zuppa is now at a turning point. “We are entering an AI-first age in unmanned systems. With this funding, we can build more advanced and secure drones to meet India’s future defence needs,” he stated.
Role in Policy and Operations
Zuppa’s influence goes beyond tech. The company is also involved in shaping India’s drone policy and standardisation efforts. It works closely with government agencies and academic institutions to help build a stronger, self-reliant drone ecosystem, aligned with India’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” mission.
Zuppa gained major attention during Operation Sindoor, where its systems were used in real-time defence operations. According to reports, the startup’s technology delivered key results, especially where conventional drones fell short, reinforcing the need for homegrown solutions.
What is Zuppa
Zuppa is a Chennai-based startup that creates AI-enabled, GPS-independent drone systems mainly for defence and disaster response. With a strong foundation in aerospace engineering, the company focuses on building reliable, secure, and smart unmanned systems for defence forces. Zuppa’s aim is to make India self-sufficient in critical drone technologies through innovation and policy collaboration.
As India looks to strengthen its defence capabilities, startups like Zuppa are becoming vital players in shaping the future of military-grade AI and drone infrastructure.
