Deep Tech Hardware Secures Seed Capital
Nagpur-based drone avionics startup ZeroDrag has successfully raised Rs 6.5 crore in a seed funding round led by Transition VC. This fresh infusion of capital marks a significant milestone for the 2022-founded company, which previously secured Rs 1.2 crore in pre-seed funding from Enrission India Capital in 2023.
Foundational Infrastructure for UAVs
Co-founded by Amit Nimje and Shantanu Bhede, ZeroDrag focuses on the “picks and shovels” of the rapidly growing drone economy. The company engineers indigenous, OEM-agnostic electronics and autonomy-ready hardware, including:
- Advanced autopilots and motor controllers
- GNSS and telemetry modules
- Communication and payload integration systems
By providing these critical components, ZeroDrag enables drone manufacturers to bypass reliance on foreign suppliers, positioning itself as a vital link in the supply chain for defense, agriculture, and logistics OEMs.
Strategic Growth Roadmap
The startup intends to use the seed proceeds to pivot from early-stage development to scaled manufacturing. Key objectives for the next 12–24 months include:
- Scaling R&D to support enterprise-grade and heavy-lift UAV hardware.
- Developing proprietary systems for the emerging eVTOL market.
- Expanding the engineering team to capture global market share.
ZeroDrag competes with established international players like Holybro and SpeedyBee, but seeks a competitive edge through local indigenous development and mission-specific reliability.