With its ultra-light, energy-efficient drones and bold vision for one-cent delivery, 20-year-old founder Naman Pushp is reimagining logistics as a physics problem — not just a business model.
Rocket-Like Drones, Rethinking Delivery
Airbound, a Bengaluru-based drone startup, has raised $8.65 million in seed funding to bring ultra-light, rocket-inspired drones to last-mile delivery.
- The round was led by Lachy Groom, co-founder of Physical Intelligence, and included participation from Lightspeed, Humba Ventures, and executives from Tesla, SpaceX, and Anduril.
- The goal? One-cent delivery — made possible by radical efficiency gains in weight, energy use, and design.
Founded by Naman Pushp when he was just 15, Airbound is already piloting with Narayana Health to deliver medical samples and supplies in Bengaluru.
Why This Drone Is Different
Unlike the typical quadcopters, Airbound’s drone — called the TRT — uses a blended-wing-body shape with a tail-sitter design, allowing it to:
- Take off vertically like a rocket
- Fly horizontally like an aircraft
- Deliver 2.2 lbs (1 kg) with a drone that weighs only 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg)
This design dramatically reduces the thrust needed for flight, improving aerodynamic efficiency and making deliveries far more energy efficient than both traditional drones and two-wheelers.
“When you get into the world of autonomy, logistics is just a physics problem,” Pushp said. “If you have lower weight and higher efficiency, you win.”
The Energy Economics of One-Cent Delivery
Pushp estimates that conventional electric scooters in India cost about ₹2 ($0.02) per kilometer for sub-3kg deliveries.
Airbound aims to cut that to ₹0.10 (about $0.001) — making one-cent delivery per parcel a viable long-term goal.
- By removing the human rider and building drones specifically for light payloads, Airbound slashes unnecessary weight by 30x.
- The result? 20x lower energy costs per kilometer.
A $2,000 Drone, Targeting ₹5 Delivery Costs
Currently, each drone costs around $2,000 to produce and ₹24 ($0.27) per delivery.
- Airbound plans to cut costs to below ₹5 ($0.05) by 2026.
- A newer version of the drone — supporting a 6.6-pound payload while weighing only 2.6 pounds — is in prototype and expected to fly by mid-2026, with production targeted for Q1 2027.
- The startup aims to reach 1 million deliveries per day by mid-2027, ramping up from 1 to 100 drones produced daily at its Bengaluru facility.
Designed for Autonomy and Efficiency
Several key innovations power the drone’s economic edge:
- Tail-sitter launch: No runways or launch pads required
- Carbon fiber frame: Ultra-lightweight and durable
- Lithium-ion batteries: Offer 2–4x the cycle life of commonly used lithium-polymer batteries, slashing battery replacement costs
- No wasted thrust: Unlike quadcopters, the TRT minimizes energy lost to disrupted airflow or redundant rotors
Pushp argues most drone systems are still too heavy, inefficient, and overpriced:
“You need four kilograms of drone to lift one kilogram of payload, which is insane to me.”
The Road Ahead: From Hospitals to Hyperlocal Commerce
Airbound’s first pilot program with Narayana Health runs for three months and targets 10 deliveries per day for lab samples, test kits, and time-sensitive supplies.
- After healthcare, Airbound is eyeing quick commerce, food delivery, and other last-mile logistics.
The startup also plans to:
- Enter the U.S. market in three years
- Work with India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation to secure regulatory clearance
- Use this seed round to scale manufacturing, enhance product design, and improve delivery economics
From Toothpicks to Term Sheets
Airbound’s story started with a lockdown project — a drone prototype made from 2D slices, tape, and toothpicks.
- That prototype won a $500 hackathon grant, followed by grants from 1517 Fund, gradCapital, and Emergent Ventures.
- At 17, Pushp received a term sheet from Lightspeed, which he signed on his 18th birthday — the first legally binding contract of his life.
Today, the 20-year-old leads a 50-person team, raising over $10 million in total funding to date.
