It’s a quiet morning in Chennai, but inside the buzzing corridors of Garuda Aerospace, there’s a sense of something bigger taking off—literally and metaphorically. From humble beginnings in 2015 to becoming a national symbol of innovation, Garuda’s journey is one of ambition, grit, and ground-breaking technology.
At the heart of it all is Agnishwar Jayaprakash—an entrepreneur shaped as much by the discipline of swimming laps for India as by the strategy halls of Harvard. Sitting across from me in a modest yet energetic office space, Agnishwar smiles as he recounts the early days. “We were just a bunch of dreamers trying to build flying robots,” he says. “Now, we’re trying to build a future.”
In this candid conversation with Indian Startup Times, Agnishwar opens up about the origin of Garuda Aerospace, the hurdles faced in uncharted airspace, and his soaring dream of positioning India as a global drone powerhouse by 2030.
From Harvard to the Skies of India
When you ask Agnishwar what pushed him to start a drone company in 2015—a time when even conversations around UAVs in India were rare—he doesn’t blink: “It was about self-reliance and solving real problems with cutting-edge tech.”
Drawing from his diverse background—sports instilling discipline, Harvard nurturing a global perspective, and a lifetime of curiosity—Agnishwar knew early on that drones had the power to bridge many gaps in India’s agriculture, defence, and infrastructure sectors. “It wasn’t just about technology,” he explains. “It was about purpose. We wanted to make an Indian company that didn’t follow global trends but created them.”
Early-Stage Chaos and the Road to Regulation
Launching Garuda wasn’t just about building drones—it was about building an industry. The regulatory environment was a maze. “There were no rules, just questions,” he recalls.
But instead of waiting on the sidelines, Agnishwar leaned in. Collaborating with regulators like the DGCA, Garuda played a key role in shaping India’s drone policy landscape. “The Drone Rules 2021 were a watershed moment,” he says proudly. “We weren’t just spectators—we were participants in shaping the future.”
Celebrity partnerships like bringing MS Dhoni on board gave the company both recognition and reach, while alliances with over 120 Indian component makers helped Garuda take firm steps toward reducing foreign dependence.
Engineering for India’s Diverse Needs
Garuda isn’t a one-drone-fits-all company. With 30 drone models and 50+ services, the company has crafted a modular, scalable model that’s built to adapt.
In agriculture, the Kisan Drones have become a lifeline. “Imagine a farmer who used to walk across 20 acres with a knapsack,” Agnishwar says. “Now, a single drone does it in a few minutes—with better precision, less water, and minimal human risk.”
In defence, Garuda’s ISR and swarm drones are being fine-tuned for national security. In logistics, the drone-in-a-box systems are already creating ripples.
What ties it all together? “An obsession with relevance,” Agnishwar says. “Our innovation is not in flying higher, but in flying smarter—towards problems that matter.”
Reaching for ₹1,000 Crore with Purpose
Last fiscal year, Garuda clocked in revenues of nearly ₹110 crore—an impressive feat for a company in a still-emerging market. But the ambitions are bolder. “We’re chasing the ₹1,000 crore mark, and we’re doing it with clarity,” he shares.
Backed by a ₹100 crore Series B funding round, Garuda is investing heavily in R&D, patent filings, and building out the upcoming Drone City in Andhra Pradesh—a ₹100 crore hub envisioned as India’s nerve center for drone manufacturing, training, and innovation.
The DaaS Model: Drones Without the Headache
Owning a drone, training a pilot, understanding data—these aren’t small tasks. Garuda’s answer? Drones-as-a-Service (DaaS).
“It’s like Netflix for drones,” Agnishwar chuckles. “You don’t need to own the tech; you just use it when you need it.”
This model has made it easier for farmers, infrastructure developers, and even governments to access cutting-edge drone solutions without the burden of ownership or technical complexity. It also helps Garuda stay agile and focused on continuous improvement.
Transforming Rural India, One Drone at a Time
What stands out most in this conversation isn’t the tech—it’s the impact.
The Kisan Drones have cut pesticide waste by 80%, water usage by 90%, and increased yields by up to 30%. “You should see the faces of farmers when they first use it,” Agnishwar smiles. “It’s not just a gadget—it’s a game-changer.”
Beyond that, Garuda’s commitment to training 10 lakh youth in drone operations is creating employment at scale. Programs like ‘Namo Drone Didi’ are putting drones in the hands of rural women, creating a ripple effect in communities.
“This is what gives me goosebumps,” Agnishwar says. “Technology alone doesn’t build nations—opportunity does.”
Taking India to the Global Stage
Garuda’s global ambitions are backed by some heavyweights—Lockheed Martin Canada for drone software and AWS for cloud infrastructure. These partnerships are opening doors for Garuda in 50+ countries, with a target to export 10,000 drones by 2025.
The team is already tailoring solutions for agriculture-rich economies in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. “They don’t want drones from Silicon Valley—they want drones that work in real fields, real conditions. That’s what we build.”
Looking Ahead: India, the Drone Superpower
Ask him where he sees India in 2030, and Agnishwar’s eyes light up. “I want India to be the drone superpower the world looks up to. Not just in manufacturing, but in design, in AI, in impact.”
Garuda’s role? “We’ll be the spine of that vision—quietly enabling revolutions, one drone at a time.”
Conclusion
Garuda Aerospace isn’t just creating machines—it’s crafting a new chapter in India’s tech story. With a founder who blends Olympic-level focus with entrepreneurial zeal, and a team that’s solving India-first problems with world-class tech, Garuda is proof that innovation can have heart.
As our conversation ends, Agnishwar turns to a buzzing drone nearby and smiles, “We’re just getting started.”
And with the sky wide open, there’s no doubt Garuda is set to soar even higher.
-By Priyanka Chatterjee
