Hyderabad-based drone technology startup Marut Drones has raised $6.2 million in a Series A funding round led by Lok Capital. The startup plans to use the funding to accelerate the development of advanced agricultural drones tailored to the specific needs of farmers. With agriculture as a central focus, the investment will also support the startup’s goal of manufacturing 3,000 drones annually.
Prem Kumar Vislawath, Marut Drones’ CEO and Co-Founder, said, “This significant investment reinforces Marut Drones’ commitment to empowering Indian farmers and developing applications for aggregating drone-based services for institutions across sectors.”
“The fresh capital will also allow us to invest in building our team, increasing our manufacturing capacity, and reaching a revenue target of Rs 1,000 crore within the next five years,” Vislawath added. In addition to product development, Marut Drones aims to broaden its reach in tier 2 and 3 cities by expanding its network of channel partners and service centers. The startup’s Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) model will enable partnerships that deliver drone services directly to rural customers, creating service hubs that bring technology closer to remote areas.
“Drones for agriculture are a novel technology that can secure crop health, conserve water, and increase yield while also providing income opportunities for village-level entrepreneurs,” said Hari Krishnan, director of Lok Capital.
Marut’s agricultural drone expansion
The startup is also investing in skill development and research through its network of drone academies and collaborations with leading Indian institutions.
It plans to launch 17 new drone academies to train skilled operators and foster drone entrepreneurship, which will be key for broader adoption and growth. These academies aim to build a trained workforce equipped to operate agricultural drones, contributing to safer and more efficient farming practices. Additionally, Marut Drones is intensifying its R&D efforts to develop innovative applications in crop monitoring and direct seeding, crucial functions for precision agriculture.
These advancements are expected to reduce input costs for farmers and improve crop yields. With over 200 team members and a fleet of 750 drones managed by more than 1,000 trained drone pilots across 14 states, Marut Drones aims to strengthen its role as a driver of employment in rural India. The startup’s strategic expansion in tier 2 and 3 cities is expected to generate more jobs and stimulate local economies, providing rural communities with the tools needed to embrace technology-led agriculture.
Marut Drones is actively seeking partnerships with agribusinesses, agri-entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders in India’s agriculture industry to broaden the reach of its drone services.
