Zipline’s drones set to fly in Africa after a $330m funding

Zipline, a drone manufacturing start-up based in the United States with operations in five African nations, has successfully raised $330 million to expand its drone services in Africa.

Zipline designs, produces and deploys drones to carry blood, medicinal, and veterinary items to hard-to-reach locations. The newest round of fundraising, from unknown investors, is the company’s sixth (Series F) since its inception in 2011.

Zipline began operations on the continent in Rwanda in 2016, before expanding to Ghana (2019), Nigeria, Kenya, and Côte d’Ivoire (2022).

The company was founded by Keenan Wyrobek, Keller Rinaudo Cliffton, and Will Hetzler.

Operations In Ivory Coast

In Côte d’Ivoire, Zipline obtained a flight authorisation certificate in January. The company signed an agreement in 2021 with the Ivorian Ministry of Health to supply medical facilities to remote areas in the country.

The first of four distribution centres, which will be located in Daloa, will be constructed for this purpose in the country’s centre and west.

In Rwanda

Last year December, Zipline founders announced their desire to make over 2 million autonomous deliveries by 2029 in Rwanda.

To accomplish this, the company has signed a long-term partnership with the Rwandan government, allowing it to deliver to a number of institutions, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (for veterinary supplies), the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, the Rwanda Development Board, Rwanda Medical Supply, and the National Agency for Child Development.

Outside Africa

Zipline, which specializes in autonomous delivery for e-commerce enterprises, has recently expanded its commercial activity in the US.

More than 450,000 parcels, including 215,000 only in 2022, have allegedly been delivered, according to the company.

Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and Emerging Capital Partners are a few of the US firms that have invested in it, along with Temasek Holdings in Singapore and Empede Capital in Dubai.