MS Dhoni-backed Garuda Aerospace has just received a fresh boost of confidence from the Narotam Sekhsaria Family Office, as the Chennai-based drone startup gears up for its much-anticipated IPO. Existing investor We Founder Circle also doubled down in this round—signaling strong belief in Garuda’s high-flying ambitions.
The new investment follows Garuda’s ₹100 crore Series B round led by Venture Catalysts earlier this April. The company says the proceeds will fuel its next phase of scale: ramping up annual drone production from 8,000 to 15,000 units, with a long-term target of 50,000. That’s a staggering leap for a company already operating India’s largest drone fleet.
Founded in 2015, Garuda Aerospace now spans 84 cities, runs 400 drones, and employs 500 trained pilots. Its portfolio has evolved from agriculture-focused drones to cutting-edge use cases in defence, logistics, and industrial surveillance. With more than 4,000 drones sold to 400+ clients, it’s not just about hardware—it’s about ecosystem dominance.
“We’ve gone from rice fields to runways and now to battlefields,” a senior executive at Garuda quipped. Indeed, partnerships with HAL, BEML, Thales, Elbit Systems, Lockheed Martin, and Cognizant reflect Garuda’s growing global ambition.
And the numbers back the narrative. As per TheKredible, Garuda’s FY24 operational revenue shot up by 2.3X to ₹110 crore, while net profit surged to ₹16 crore, a 2.7X jump from the previous year.
With DGCA certifications, a growing export network (50 countries in sight by end-2025), and a deep bench of strategic partnerships, Garuda Aerospace is no longer just a drone startup—it’s fast becoming a national technology asset.
As its IPO looms closer, all eyes are now on how this homegrown giant will navigate the skies ahead.
