Nagpur-based drone avionics startup ZeroDrag has raised Rs 6.5 crore in a seed funding round led by Transition VC as the company looks to strengthen its indigenous UAV technology capabilities and scale manufacturing operations.
Prior to this, the startup had secured Rs 1.2 crore in a pre-seed funding round from Enrission India Capital and several angel investors in September 2023.
The company said the fresh funds will be used to expand research and development capabilities, strengthen testing and quality infrastructure, improve supply chain stability, and accelerate the development of next-generation UAV avionics for both Indian and global markets.
Founded in 2022 by Amit Nimje and Shantanu Bhede, ZeroDrag focuses on building indigenous electronics, communication systems, and autonomy-ready hardware for drones and UAV platforms.
The startup develops autopilots, motor controllers, GNSS modules, telemetry systems, communication infrastructure, and payload integration systems for drone manufacturers, enterprise UAV platforms, FPV users, and industrial applications.
ZeroDrag aims to create the foundational electronics layer that enables UAV companies to design, manufacture, and scale reliable drone systems for a wide range of commercial and industrial applications.
The company currently supplies high-performance UAV sub-components to drone OEMs operating across defence, agriculture, logistics, and industrial sectors. Its OEM-agnostic and application-agnostic approach allows it to support multiple drone platforms and deployment requirements across markets.
Over the next 12 to 24 months, ZeroDrag plans to scale its manufacturing capabilities, expand its engineering team, improve product availability, and broaden its product portfolio into enterprise-grade UAV hardware solutions. This will also include systems designed for heavy-lift drones and future eVTOL platforms.
As India’s drone ecosystem continues to evolve rapidly, startups like ZeroDrag are increasingly working toward reducing dependence on imported drone electronics while supporting the country’s growing defence and industrial drone requirements.
The company competes with global drone hardware and UAV electronics firms such as Holybro, Caddx, SpeedyBee, and HGLRC.
-By Shivani Solanki
