Team Startupcity

· Zuppa raises $1.5M in bridge round led by Rahul Dewan, with Capital Foods and Mangwani Family Office backing.

· Developing GPS-independent, AI-powered drone systems for defence and civilian use.

· Playing a key role in post-Operation Sindoor assessments and shaping India's indigenous drone policy.

Amid rising global tensions and an escalating race for technological sovereignty, Chennai-based Zuppa is emerging as a critical player in India’s defence tech landscape. The deep-tech startup has raised $1.5 million in a bridge funding round, led by tech entrepreneur Rahul Dewan (founder of Srijan Technologies), with participation from Ajay Gupta of Capital Foods and the Mangwani Family Office (formerly of Aquapharm Chemicals).

This isn't simply a capital injection  it's an endorsement of sorts by seasoned founders and investors who appreciate the importance of establishing category-defining deep-tech from the bottom up.

Founded by a group of aerospace engineers, Zuppa has created an entirely indigenous drone intelligence platform. Its rugged tech stack features AI-led targeting, vision-based navigation systems, flight control software, and safe cyber-physical architecture  all designed to work independently of GPS and high-speed internet, perfect for rough, signal-degraded environments.

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"In defence situations with high risk, when you have unreliable connectivity and uncertain terrain, you require systems that are robust," said a co-founder. "That's what Zuppa is plugging into the gap."

Zuppa has already caused a stir in India's highly controlled defence drone market, playing a significant part in evaluations following Operation Sindoor, where there was a pressing realization of the need for trusted, locally developed drone systems. By providing a dual-use platform for both military and commercial use, Zuppa is not only catching up  it's setting the benchmark.

The new capital will be applied to boost R&D, accelerate real-world deployments, and join with government agencies and academia to influence the future of drone policy and technology standards for India.

Equipped with a patent-backed IP stack, working deployments, and a vision based on strategic autonomy, Zuppa is gradually transforming from a high-potential startup into a key technology partner for India's aerial intelligence endeavors.

In a time when drone technology is woven into national security, logistics, and disaster relief, Zuppa is sending a message: India's future with drones will not be imported but rather be built domestically.