Wed Apr 16 07:38:03 UTC 2025: ## Chennai Drone Startup Garuda Aerospace Soars with $25 Million Series B Funding
**Chennai, April 16, 2025** – Garuda Aerospace, a Chennai-based drone startup backed by cricketer M.S. Dhoni, has secured ₹100 crore ($25 million USD) in Series B funding from Venture Catalysts (Vcats++), valuing the company at $250 million. This investment will fuel the company’s expansion plans, including scaling its production facility and developing a cutting-edge R&D center for advanced defense drone technology.
Garuda Aerospace, founded in 2015, currently produces 8,000-10,000 drones annually and employs over 200 people. The company boasts the largest drone fleet in India, with over 400 drones and 500 pilots operating across 84 cities. They manufacture 30 types of drones and offer 50 types of services to a diverse clientele including major Indian and international corporations such as Tata, Godrej, Adani, Reliance, and Lockheed Martin.
The new funding will also enable Garuda to increase the indigenous production of drone components from 40-45% to 85% by June-July. The company is expanding its 24,000 sq. ft. facility by an additional 35,000 sq. ft. to accommodate this growth.
Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO of Garuda Aerospace, highlighted the significance of the funding in accelerating the company’s growth and technological advancements. Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, Co-founder and Managing Director of Venture Catalysts, emphasized the investment’s alignment with their strategy of supporting Indian technology companies with high growth potential. Garuda Aerospace is notable for being the first drone company in India to receive DGCA approvals for Type Certification and Remote Pilot Training Organisation.
First Piper 