The Duke of Drones: Agnishwar Jayaprakash

How did an Olympic prospect go on to ascertain one of many main drone startups in India? Since a younger age, Agnishwar Jayaprakash has been a person of many skills, however a person of 1 objective: to serve the youth of India. Many could not know however his tryst with swimming was a results of a lung ailment and his father felt that the game will assist in enhancing his respiratory skill. And it did. In actual fact, in 2012, he received six classes on the World Brief Course Swimming Championships in Istanbul. Jayaprakash was all set to win an Olympic medal. However he knew his life had an even bigger objective to serve. Being lively within the social improvement entrance, he has been invested in applied sciences and ideas which may help international locations obtain their Sustainable Improvement Objectives by 2030 from a younger age. Throughout his stint below the UN Assistant Secretary Common-Madam Lakshmi Puri, the place he obtained colossal publicity whereas contributing to affect reviews targeted on youth energy and rising applied sciences reminiscent of drones, he realized that latter had the potential to disrupt a number of billion greenback sectors and affect over 1 billion folks. “This highly effective mixture may very well be used to disrupt multibillion-dollar sectors without delay and that second led to the constructing of Garuda Aerospace,” says this Harvard Enterprise Faculty alumni.

Precision agri-tech and Business 4.0 upgradation are what units the startup aside. Moreover, it’s specializing in constructing superior drones for armed forces and protection necessities, diversifying its sectors reminiscent of agriculture, surveillance, and mapping. “Garuda Aerospace is asset-light, recession-proof, and agnostic and focuses on eliminating labours within the agricultural discipline with drones,” shared the founder. It caters to 30 several types of drones and gives over 50 sorts of providers, together with warehouse administration for Flipkart and Delhivery, together with meals drone supply for Swiggy. So how has 2022 been for the corporate? Jayaprakash remembers it to be an important one because the startup progressed and partnered extensively throughout numerous segments. It additionally acquired a inexperienced flag from DGCA for kind certification and RPTO certification, making it the first Indian drone startup to take action.

It additionally partnered with international giants reminiscent of Lockheed Martin, Elbit Techniques, and Cognizant to broaden in international locations like Malaysia, Africa, South America, Panama, UAE, and France. The startup obtained additional enhance when former Indian skipper MS Dhoni joined as an investor and model ambassador. Presently, the startup has a fleet of 400 drones, a well-trained staff of 500+ pilots, residence in 84 cities, and a shopper base of over 750 “Garuda Aerospace is firmly on the trail in the direction of the first ever Drone Unicorn Startup in India and Garuda- the Dronicorn is a Mission assertion that may grow to be a actuality within the subsequent 12 months,” shares Jayaprakash. The enterprise is eyeing a Sequence A spherical with $15-20 million in fairness. It’s presently valued at $250 Million and is money constructive with a 24% internet revenue margin.