SUMMARY
- Marut Drones raised $6.2 million in Series A funding from Lok Capital, supporting its agricultural drone and service expansion.
- The funds will help build agricultural drones, expand service hubs, and create rural job opportunities.
- With plans for increased manufacturing and training centers, Marut aims for a revenue target of ₹1,000 crore in five years.
Hyderabad-based drone technology firm Marut Drones has successfully raised $6.2 million in a Series A funding round led by investment firm Lok Capital. This funding will drive Marut’s ambitions to expand its agricultural drone offerings and strengthen its infrastructure to support farmers across India’s rural sectors. Founded in 2019 by IIT alumni Prem Kumar Vislawath, Suraj Peddi, and Sai Kumar Chinthala, Marut Drones aims to modernize agricultural practices, reduce farmers’ input costs, and boost productivity through advanced drone technology.
With the new capital, Marut Drones will focus on developing drones tailored to agricultural needs, including direct seeding and crop monitoring applications. The company plans to scale its presence by establishing service hubs and strengthening its network of service centers in Tier II and Tier III cities, thereby promoting Drone-as-a-Service to rural customers. Marut is also committed to creating local employment opportunities in these areas, supporting drone entrepreneurship, and providing training through 17 new drone academies.
Lok Capital’s Director, Hari Krishnan, expressed enthusiasm about the investment, highlighting the potential of drones to improve crop health, save water, and minimize exposure to harmful chemicals, while also providing income opportunities for village-level entrepreneurs. The funding will also allow Marut Drones to enhance its team and manufacturing capacity, targeting a production goal of 3,000 drones annually.
Marut Drones has already built a solid foundation with over 200 team members, a fleet of 750 drones, and 1,000 trained drone pilots operating across 14 states in India. Its latest innovation, the DGCA Type Certified AG365H agricultural drone, exemplifies the company’s dedication to practical, multi-use technology. The AG365H drone, launched last month, is capable of fish feeding, fertilizer broadcasting, and pesticide spraying, with comprehensive training for operators.
In addition to agriculture, Marut Drones is exploring new applications in disaster management and surveillance, aiming to establish itself as a comprehensive provider in the growing drone market. The company has set an ambitious revenue goal of ₹1,000 crore within the next five years.
The Indian drone industry has seen significant growth, with drone startups attracting $50 million in investment in FY24, a threefold increase from the previous year, according to NITI Aayog. Projections by NITI Aayog and research firm Markets and Markets forecast a booming drone market in India, expected to reach $15 billion by 2030, with drone units rising from 10,803 in 2024 to 61,393 by 2029.
