EndureAir Raises INR 25 Cr from IAN Alpha Fund for Drone Expansion

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Latest Startup News: IIT Kanpur-incubated dronetech startup EndureAir Systems has raised INR 25 Cr in funding from IAN Alpha Fund and IAN Angel Fund. The fresh capital will be used to advance high-altitude logistics drones, aerial robotics platforms, and expand into enterprise markets, marking a significant development in India’s fast-growing drone ecosystem.

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EndureAir’s Drone Technology Journey

Founded in 2018 by Professor Abhishek of IIT Kanpur’s aerospace engineering department, along with his former students Rama Krishna and Chirag Jain, EndureAir has built a strong research-driven foundation.

The startup focuses on unmanned aerial systems (UAS), covering novel airframes, autopilots, communication frameworks, cooperative control, monitoring stations, and computer vision algorithms.

EndureAir claims full in-house hardware and software development, giving it greater control over intellectual property.
The company holds nine patents in vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) technology.
Its drones are designed for defence operations, surveillance, logistics, and disaster management.

The startup’s innovation-driven approach positions it among India’s most credible dronetech ventures.

INR 25 Cr Funding for EndureAir

According to the official statement, the INR 25 Cr ($3 Mn) funding round will support multiple growth initiatives:

EndureAir Funding Details

Funding Round: Growth capital
Amount Raised: INR 25 Cr
Investors: IAN Alpha Fund, IAN Angel Fund
Use of Funds: Expand enterprise operations, build high-altitude logistics drones, strengthen aerial robotics platforms

EndureAir also confirmed its ongoing collaborations with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to co-develop high-altitude logistics drones and with Druk Holding & Investments (Bhutan) on pilot logistics missions to remote monasteries.

Its UAVs are already operational:

Sabal drone: Can carry up to 20 kg payloads, inducted by the Indian Army’s Eastern Command.
Vibhram UAV: Long-endurance drone deployed in Telangana’s “Medicine from the Sky” programme to deliver vaccines in remote areas.

Industry & Market Impact of Drone Funding

The Indian dronetech sector is witnessing strong investor interest, supported by favourable policy frameworks and a surge in enterprise adoption.

India’s drone market is projected to reach $13 Bn by 2030.
The PLI scheme by the Government of India has incentivised manufacturing, boosting demand for indigenous drone solutions.
The Union Government is reportedly planning another INR 2,000 Cr ($234 Mn) incentive programme to promote domestic drone and component manufacturing.

EndureAir competes with well-funded startups such as ideaForge, Paras Aerospace, IG Drones, Asteria Aerospace, Aero360, Redwing, General Aeronautics, and The ePlane Company, reflecting intense competition in India’s UAV market.

Expert Insights on Drone Market Growth

Industry experts believe that EndureAir’s in-house R&D capabilities and patent portfolio give it a strategic advantage over peers.

“India’s drone sector is at an inflection point. Startups like EndureAir that combine academic research with commercial deployment are attracting institutional funding because they can scale across defence, logistics, and enterprise applications,” said an analyst tracking deeptech and aerospace investments.

Venture capitalists also note that enterprise adoption of logistics drones could reshape supply chains in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and defence.

What’s Next for EndureAir

With fresh capital, EndureAir is expected to:

Accelerate development of next-gen aerial robotics platforms.
Expand enterprise-focused logistics drone operations.
Strengthen collaborations with defence and government organisations.
Scale production of Sabal and Vibhram UAVs for wider deployment.

The broader drone-tech ecosystem in India will likely see increased M&A activity, investor-backed scaling, and policy-driven growth, keeping startups like EndureAir in the spotlight.

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