Indian Defence Tech Startup Zebu Secures $1 Million Funding
Indian defence technology startup Zebu has raised $1 million in a pre-series A funding round led by Bluehill VC. The Hyderabad-based company specializes in counter-drone and unmanned systems for military applications. The funding will accelerate the development of four mission-critical drones from prototype to battlefield deployment.
With this investment, Zebu plans to enhance advanced field testing of these systems to achieve production readiness and become a key supplier to the Indian armed forces. Sridhar Parthasarathi, General Partner at Bluehill VC, noted that Zebu is well-positioned to capture the growing counter-drone market, expected to reach $11 billion by 2030.
In recent developments, Zebu’s IAF Net Capture Drone has achieved significant milestones, progressing from a skeletal model to radar integration and obtaining military-grade certification within six months. The company is also developing an Anti-Drone Swarm System for the Air Force, featuring rapid-fire pneumatic launchers, with operational readiness expected by late 2025.
“The battlefield of the future is AI-led and unmanned – that’s inevitable. Zebu is making this indigenously available,” said Santosh Balajee, Founder and CEO of Zebu. “We’re not just exporting counter-drone technology; we’re exporting India’s defence sovereignty to the global stage. There’s a massive opportunity to fill the existing gap in integrating technology into our defence sector.”
Zebu’s progress in drone technology and counter-drone systems positions the company as a significant player in both the Indian and global defence markets.
