Drone startup Skye Air Mobility has announced a significant milestone, securing contracts from 10 government medical institutions to implement its innovative drone mobility solutions. The contracts, spanning six AIIMS (All India Institutes of Medical Sciences) and three regional leprosy centers, aim to leverage aerial vehicles for the efficient and timely delivery of critical medical supplies, all housed in temperature-controlled containers.
The government medical institutions involved in these partnerships are located across various states, including Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Odisha, Manipur, Bihar, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. Skye Air Mobility is set to complete the deployment of its drone solutions in the coming weeks.
Expressing enthusiasm about the collaboration, Ankit Kumar, Founder and CEO of Skye Air Mobility, stated, “We are elated to collaborate with these esteemed healthcare institutions and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. These contracts present a substantial opportunity to synergize with leading healthcare institutions, aligning our efforts with the visionary goals of the Ministry.”
Founded in 2019 by Ankit Kumar, Swapnik Jakkampudi, and Chandra Prakash, Skye Air Mobility focuses primarily on healthcare, ecommerce, quick commerce, and agriculture through its drone delivery services. The startup has garnered support from investors such as LetsVenture, Chiratae Ventures, and Agility Ventures, raising $1.7 Mn in its most recent seed round in November 2022.
Skye Air Mobility has initiated partnerships with several Indian startups, including Dunzo, Flipkart Health+, and Curefoods, conducting trials for its drone technology. CEO Ankit Kumar outlined the company’s ambitious plans to expand its drone fleet from the current 35 to 100 drones over the next six months.
The surge in interest and investment in Indian drone startups is notable, driven by the government’s INR 120 Cr production-linked-incentive (PLI) scheme for drones and streamlined certification norms. Another recent player in the drone sector, NewSpace Research & Technologies, raised $52 Mn in a bridge round with a focus on defense-oriented drone manufacturing.
As the drone industry in India continues to flourish, Skye Air Mobility’s contracts underscore the pivotal role of drone technology in enhancing healthcare logistics and aligning with the nation’s technological advancement goals.
