Arctus Aerospace Raises $2.6 Million to Advance High-Altitude Drone Technology
- Bengaluru drone startup brings in $2.6 Million from global investors
- Funds to boost R&D and scale pilot projects
- Aims to offer cheaper, high-resolution data than satellites
Arctus Aerospace, a Bengaluru-based unmanned aircraft startup, has secured $2.6 million in fresh funding from Version One Ventures, South Park Commons, gradCapital, and prominent angel investors including Srinivas Narayan, OpenAI’s CTO of B2B applications, and former Coinbase CTO Balaji Srinivasan.
Founded in 2024 by Shreepoorna S Rao at IIT Madras, Arctus builds high-altitude drones capable of flying at 45,000 feet. These aircraft can carry up to 250 kg payloads and are equipped with multiple cameras to support inspection, mapping, and insurance-related monitoring. The company currently charges $1 per square kilometer for its data services.
Rao said the new capital will be used to strengthen R&D and support ongoing pilot programs. Arctus is already running a pilot with a customer in India and is in active discussions with potential clients in the US and the Middle East.
Before this round, the startup had raised around $100,000 from gradCapital and early angels. The company now operates an R&D center in Bengaluru, employs 10 engineers, and manufactures 1.2-ton aircraft, sourcing engines from suppliers in countries such as Australia.
Also Read: Tsalla Aerospace Secures $1 Million to Advance Autonomous Drone Tech
Arctus positions its technology as a more affordable alternative to traditional satellite data. According to Rao, the startup’s drones can deliver high-resolution, 24-hour monitoring at nearly one-tenth the cost of satellite-based solutions, providing significant savings for sectors like oil and gas, infrastructure, and insurance.
