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Drone-manufacturing startup BonV Aero raises Rs 10 crore in funding

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ISN Team
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BonV Aero founders

BonV Aero founders

BonV Aero, a drone-manufacturing startup backed by U.S. venture capitalist Tim Draper, announced it has raised Rs 10 crore in a funding round from Unicorn India Ventures to develop electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and autonomous drone technologies.

The Odisha-based startup had previously raised capital from Draper, a well-known Silicon Valley investor in global tech giants such as Tesla and Microsoft.

What does BonV Aero do?

BonV Aero, founded in 2021 by Satyabrata Satpathy, Abinash Sahoo, Rahul Kumar, Gaurav Achha and Sultan Alam, designs high-payload eVTOL drones capable of carrying up to 35 kilograms at altitudes of nearly 14,000 feet. The startup has also developed interchangeable pods for uses ranging from supply and ammunition transport to casualty evacuation.

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Notably, its flagship Air Orca eVTOL is used by the Indian Army for high-altitude logistics support and can fly independently without a certified co-pilot.

Leadership comments

“We see enormous potential in eVTOL and autonomous drone technologies for logistics, defence and emergency response,” said BonV Aero co-founder and CEO, Satyabrata Satpathy.

“Securing support from investors like Unicorn India Ventures reflects our team’s efforts and underscores the market opportunity for these capabilities. The funding will help us accelerate research and scale production.”

Enhancing production in Odisha

Notably, its most recent win is a selection to join the U.K. Ministry of Defence’s Unmanned Aerial Systems Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC) Framework, a move the startup says will further expand its international footprint.

It also plans to use the new funds to enhance production in Odisha, broaden R&D activities and collaborate with additional industry stakeholders.

Bhaskar Mazumdar, founder and managing partner at Unicorn India Ventures, said the investment aligns with Odisha’s goal of becoming a hub for emerging technologies. “BonV Aero’s eVTOL drones have the potential to transform logistics, supply chain management and defence applications,” he noted.

“We invest in entrepreneurs who are advancing groundbreaking innovations, and this partnership underscores our faith in India’s growing aerospace and defence sectors.”

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