U.S. autonomous drone supply and logistics startup Zipline mentioned Wednesday it’s going to arrange operations in Houston and Phoenix early this yr, as a part of an enlargement that will probably be propelled by $600 million in recent funding.
The spherical, which values the corporate at $7.6 billion, will probably be used to develop to a minimum of 4 U.S. states in 2026, the corporate mentioned. A number of current and new traders, together with Constancy Administration & Analysis Firm, Baillie Gifford, Valor Fairness Companions, and Tiger International participated within the funding spherical.
Based in 2014, Zipline developed its personal drone supply ecosystem, together with the logistics software program, launch and touchdown techniques, and the plane. The corporate received its business begin in 2016 utilizing its autonomous drones to ship blood in Rwanda. Right now, Zipline’s drones ship meals, retail, agriculture, and well being merchandise in 5 African nations, a number of cities in america, and Japan.
Final yr, Zipline launched a house supply service within the U.S. that lets clients order meals and retail items through an app. The house supply service makes use of Zipline’s Platform 2 drones, that are designed to hold as much as eight kilos and journey to clients inside a 10-mile radius. Its bigger Platform 1 drones are used for long-range deliveries for enterprise, enterprise, and authorities that may cowl 120 miles spherical journey. The P2 platform began in Pea Ridge, Arkansas, and the Dallas-Fort Price Metroplex with Walmart, and greater than a dozen restaurant manufacturers, in accordance with Zipline.
It has additionally introduced plans to launch in Seattle. Different business companions embrace Panera, Chipotle, Crumbl, Blaze Pizza, Wendy’s, and Little Caesars.
That geographic enlargement in america has fueled Zipline’s supply numbers. In 2024, the corporate accomplished 1 million drone deliveries to clients; this week, Zipline mentioned it had surpassed 2 million deliveries. The corporate additionally mentioned its U.S. deliveries have grown by about 15% week-over-week for the final seven months.
Co-founder and CEO Keller Cliffton views 2026 as the corporate’s breakout yr.
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“Autonomous logistics has been maturing for greater than a decade, and the final yr has made it unmistakably clear that when deliveries are quicker, cleaner, safer, and cheaper, demand isn’t simply excessive, it grows exponentially,” Cliffton mentioned in a press release. “In 2026 autonomous logistics will develop into an on a regular basis staple for folks throughout a number of states within the U.S. That transformation begins with Houston and my residence city of Phoenix, which we’ll start serving early this yr, after which develop to much more locations throughout the nation all year long.”
Zipline isn’t alone within the nascent business of drone supply. Different opponents embrace Flytrex, DroneUp, Amazon Prime Air, and Wing, the Alphabet-owned subsidiary that has additionally partnered with Walmart. Wing introduced plans to develop to a different 150 Walmart shops by means of 2027.
