Indian defense-tech startup Zebu Intelligent Systems has raised $1 million in a pre-series A round led by Chennai-based Bluehill VC, as it prepares to fast-track deployment of its indigenous unmanned aerial systems for the armed forces.
Founded in 2021 by robotics Ph.D. Santosh Balajee Banisetty, Zebu develops counter-drone and unmanned systems aimed at modernising India’s defence capabilities. The company plans to use the funds to move four mission-ready drone products from prototype to production stage.
The startup is developing a net drone for the Indian Air Force (IAF) to capture hostile drones mid-air, a sea-rescue drone for the Indian Coast Guard, an AI-powered swarm combat drone, and a tethered surveillance system for the Army’s border patrol. All four products are currently undergoing advanced field testing and are expected to reach battlefield readiness in 2025.
Zebu, which claims to have filed seven patents and secured two trademarks, also achieved a Guinness World Record in 2024 for the longest flight in the sub-5kg drone category. It is actively indigenizing its supply chain, building components such as electronic speed controllers and stabilized gimbals in-house to reduce dependency on foreign suppliers.
“The battlefield of the future is AI-led and unmanned. Zebu is making that future indigenously available,” said Banisetty, adding that the company is seeking to raise another $5 million in its next round to scale production and begin international expansion.
Bluehill VC’s General Partner Sridhar Parthasarathi said, “The global counter-drone market is projected to reach $11 billion by 2030. Zebu is well-positioned to capture this market with its combat-tested solutions.”
Zebu’s proprietary ground control station, designed to manage drone fleets from a single interface, is currently being tested by the Indian Coast Guard. The company also reported its first commercial win with a high-performance battery pack for nano drones and is adapting military-grade components for enterprise use.
With early revenue traction and a growing IP portfolio, Zebu is positioning itself as a full-stack provider of unmanned systems across military and commercial sectors, and is expected to onboard senior leadership including a Chief Business Officer and defence advisors in the coming months.
Bluehill VC manages a ₹350 crore fund focused on IP-driven deep-tech startups across sectors such as defence, semiconductors, robotics, and industrial IoT.
