Zuppa Raises $1.5M in Bridge Round to Scale Indigenous Drone Intelligence

Chennai | July 16, 2025 — Indian deep-tech innovator Zuppa has raised $1.5 million in bridge funding, accelerating its mission to redefine drone intelligence through indigenous technologies tailored for real-world defence and unmanned aerial system (UAS) applications.

The round was led by Rahul Dewan, founder of global software engineering firm Srijan Technologies and Sangam Talks, with strategic participation from Ajay Gupta, founder of Capital Foods, and The Mangwani Family Office, former owners of Aquapharm Chemicals.

Zuppa’s proprietary drone solutions—which operate independently of GPS and high-bandwidth internet—position the Chennai-based company uniquely for deployment in complex defence environments. The capital will be used to expand Zuppa’s footprint in high-barrier defence drone technologies, especially in response to shortcomings identified during Operation Sindoor.

“The endorsement from entrepreneurs who have built enduring businesses speaks volumes,” said Sai Pattabiram, Founder & Managing Director, Zuppa. “They recognize Zuppa’s deep-tech IP as pivotal for India’s drone-driven future.”

Co-founder and Technical Director Venkatesh Sai echoed this sentiment, calling the round “a launchpad” for deploying smarter, AI-integrated drone capabilities and scaling operations with strategic precision.

Zuppa’s technology is already in use across defence scenarios involving cyber-physical drone stacks, AI-driven targeting, and vision-guided systems. The company actively collaborates with academic institutions and government programs to help shape India’s drone policy and standards framework.

The round’s credibility is boosted by the backgrounds of its investors. Dewan’s Srijan Technologies was acquired by Material+ (US) in 2022. Gupta’s Capital Foods—known for FMCG brands like Ching’s Secret and Smith & Jones—was recently acquired by Tata Consumer, while Aquapharm Chemicals was acquired by PCBL Chemical Ltd, part of the RPSG Group, a global leader in specialty chemicals.

This funding not only brings capital but deep operational expertise, signaling strong momentum for Zuppa as it strengthens its national and international presence.