Latest news with #VivekMishra
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Business Standard
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Raphe mPhibr raises $100 million in landmark defence drone funding round
In a major boost to India's indigenous defence tech sector, drone manufacturer Raphe mPhibr has secured $100 million in fresh funding, marking the largest private fundraise in the country's drone industry to date, The Times of India reported. The round was led by General Catalyst, with participation from Think Investments, Amal Parikh, and several family offices. With this, the total capital raised by the company has reached $145 million. Drones made by Raphe mPhibr were deployed during the recent Operation Sindoor in May. The new funding will be used to scale up Raphe mPhibr's end-to-end capabilities in aircraft design, engineering, and production. The company plans to enhance its facilities to better meet India's growing demand for homegrown aerospace technologies, the news report said. 'This funding is more than an investment; it is a commitment to build in India what the country can no longer afford to import,' the company said in a statement, aligning its mission with the government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives. Raphe mPhibr's product lineup: From drone swarms to maritime reconnaissance Founded in 2016, Raphe mPhibr offers a wide range of defence-grade UAVs: -mR10: A drone swarm platform for coordinated missions -mR20: Designed for high-altitude logistics delivery -Bharat Drone: A man-portable surveillance solution -X8: Built for maritime patrol and reconnaissance Raphe mPhibr was established by Vikash Mishra and Vivek Mishra, two technologists with deep roots in aerospace and engineering. Vikash is an MIT-trained aerospace engineer with past experience at Idaho National Laboratory and CERN, while Vivek holds a PhD from Georgia Tech and has worked extensively in bio-inspired algorithms and sensor networks. Expanding India's indigenous defence ecosystem The company operates a comprehensive aerospace manufacturing campus, staffed by over 600 employees and housing specialised departments in aerodynamics, structural mechanics, thermodynamics, materials science, and electronics. It claims to have logged over one million km of flight across its platforms and developed more than 100 unique intellectual properties. Its manufacturing capabilities include facilities for metal processing, composite materials, engine development, and military-grade electronics, enabling it to build equipment that performs in extreme conditions — ranging from deserts to high-altitude mountains and marine environments.
India.com
6 days ago
- Automotive
- India.com
After Operation Sindoor, Noida-based drone startup raises over Rs 8300000000 in India's largest..., the company is...
(Image used for representational purpose only) Noida-based drone startup Raphe mPhibr has raised USD 100 million in fresh funding, led by US-based investment firm General Catalyst. This is the largest amount ever raised by an Indian aerospace manufacturing company, bringing the total funds raised by the startup to USD 145 million (over Rs. 1,200 crore). Raphe mPhibr's drones were part of the recent Operation Sindoor. Speaking to NDTV, Raphe mPhibr CEO Vivek Mishra said the key to staying ahead of countries like China in drone technology is to build a strong ecosystem that supports everything from designing and developing drones to making them right here in India. Sharing a real example, he said that when they were working on a drone that needed to fly for a long time, they could not find a suitable engine in the market. Most engines were either too bulky, too costly, or did not perform well enough. So instead of settling, the team decided to build their own internal combustion engine from scratch. 'We designed and made the engine ourselves to suit our drone's needs. It was the first time such an engine was built in India for drones. Our aim wasn't to copy anything, but to make something smaller, lighter, and more efficient that truly worked for our use,' Mishra told NDTV. He believes many Indian companies have the potential to focus on research and production. 'If we do that, we can create products that meet India's specific needs, rather than relying on foreign solutions,' he added. Raphe mPhibr used during Operation Sindoor
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
$100 million boost for drone startup Raphe mPhibr
Bengaluru: Indian drone startup Raphe mPhibr raised $100 million, led by General Catalyst, marking the largest private fundraise in the sector by an Indian company to date. The round also saw participation from existing investors Think Investments, Amal Parikh, and other family offices, bringing the company's total capital raised to $145 million. The fresh funds will be used to expand Raphe mPhibr's end-to-end aircraft design, engineering, and manufacturing facilities as it positions itself to support India's growing needs for domestically developed aerospace technologies. Founded in 2016, Raphe mPhibr focused on building mission-critical platforms for the Indian armed forces. Its offerings include the mR10 drone swarm, the mR20 high-altitude logistics platform, the Bharat man-portable surveillance drone, and the X8 for maritime patrol and reconnaissance. The company said it also developed India's first indigenous military-grade autopilot and internal combustion engine. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Raphe mPhibr was founded by Vikash Mishra and Vivek Mishra, technologists with deep expertise across aerospace and engineering disciplines. Vikash brings a background in aerospace engineering and nuclear science from MIT, with early experience at Idaho National Laboratory and CERN. Vivek holds a PhD in electrical and computer engineering from Georgia Tech, specialising in bio-inspired algorithms and sensor networks, and worked in engineering and operations at Bharat Petroleum. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trending in in 2025: Local network access control [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo With over 600 staff, 100 unique IPs, and more than a million kilometres of flight logged across its platforms, Raphe mPhibr operates an aerospace manufacturing campus with dedicated departments in aerodynamics, structural mechanics, materials science, thermodynamics, and electronics. This allows it to design and produce critical equipment for challenging environments such as mountains, deserts, and oceans. Its state-of-the-art facilities cover metal processing, composites, engine design, and military-grade electronics. The company collaborated with global aerospace leaders such as Dassault Systèmes, Hensoldt, and Safran. Its focus, a statement said, is to build platforms and technologies that advance India's self-reliance in aerospace and defence, aligning with the country's Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India policies."This funding is more than an investment; it is a commitment to build in India what the country can no longer afford to import," the company said in the statement.
NDTV
6 days ago
- Automotive
- NDTV
After Op Sindoor Success, Indian Drone Startup Raises Massive $100 Million
New Delhi: UAV manufacturing startup Raphe mPhibr, whose drones participated in Operation Sindoor, has raised $100 million in a funding round led by General Catalyst. The Noida-based startup has so far raised $145 million (over Rs 1,200 crore) in the biggest ever fundraise by an Indian aerospace manufacturing firm. Raphe mPhibr Chief Executive Vivek Mishra told NDTV the key to beating China in drone technology and market is to build "a very strong ecosystem for design, development, and manufacturing." Giving an example from his own startup's experience, Mr Mishra said they needed an internal combustion engine for one of their long-endurance drones, but they could not find an ideal one, so they ended up building one that perfectly matched their needs. "For one of our long-endurance drones, we needed an internal combustion engine. Anything existing in the market would be either too expensive or too heavy or would not meet performance [parameters]. So we decided that we would design and manufacture the internal combustion engine here," Mr Mishra said. "And we were able to do it. This was India's first design of an internal combustion engine. The goal was not to recreate anything, but to reduce size, weight, increase performance, and attune it to the requirement for the UAV and hence the user," Mr Mishra said, referring to unmanned aerial vehicles. He added that a lot of companies in India can focus on research and manufacturing. "We can then come up with unique products for the unique requirements of India." Raphe mPhibr proved its mettle during Operation Sindoor, when India launched strikes against Pakistan in response to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 tourists. Their drones fired missiles at Pakistani targets. Since then there has been a huge surge in the Indian military's interest in acquiring more of these systems from domestic firms. The Indian Army, for instance, just ordered 450 suicide drones from a competitor and is all set to order hundreds more from the Noida-based startup. With enough resources, Raphe mPhibr is expected to innovate and deliver more capable drones to the military. "This was our Series B round where we raised $100 million, led by General Catalyst. A lot of our existing investors like Amal Parekh and Think Investment also pitched in this round as well. We$100 started almost a decade ago and this was a major [funding] round that we did to support the increase in capacity for our research and manufacturing," Mr Mishra told NDTV. On the huge interest in Raphe mPhibr's products following Operation Sindoor, Mr Mishra said their vision from Day 1 of operations was to develop a strong research and manufacturing capability in India. "We have been silently working for around a decade to develop the capacity where we are able to not only do research on the system level, but also do research and manufacturing on a subsystem level, where in each and every part of the drone, be it the structures, be it composites, be it electronics, wire harnesses, or even software - are designed and manufactured here," Mr Mishra said. "We have a unique manufacturing capability where state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques along with research are under one roof. For us, it's the same old vision. The value has increased wherein we are raising a larger amount compared to the last round, but this is towards the same vision that we have to be able to do more deep research into every field and focus on manufacturing and indigenous capabilities," the Raphe mPhibr CEO said. He expressed optimism that Indian engineers who leave the country to look for opportunities abroad would return in large numbers to work in the exciting field of drone tech. He said they have been seeing a trend where hundreds of scientists who have been working in the US for up to 15 years and even young scientists showing excitement in getting opportunities to work in drone tech and related fields in India. "The primary thing is that if you give people the kind of work that becomes an enjoyment, especially for engineers and scientists, they would definitely want to come. We are seeing this. A lot of Indians who have returned from the US and Europe are working with us. And not only Indians, we are proud to welcome other people as well who want to contribute in this sector," Mr Mishra said.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Indian drone startup Raphe mPhibr raises $100M as military UAV demand soars
Indian drone startup Raphe mPhibr has raised $100 million in an all-equity Series B round led by General Catalyst, as the startup aims to boost its R&D and local production capabilities amid growing demand for drones in battlefields and for border surveillance. Drones are becoming increasingly ubiquitous in global military operations. In recent and ongoing conflicts, countries have turned to drones for rapid infiltration and high-impact strikes. The recent India-Pakistan war is a prime example, with both militaries deploying drones at scale despite having advanced fighter jets and missile systems. The conflict spurred New Delhi to triple its drone spending to $470 million over the next 12 to 14 months according to the Drone Federation of India, an association representing over 550 companies. While China remains the dominant force in global drone manufacturing, Raphe mPhibr aims to strengthen India's indigenous drone capabilities. Co-founded by siblings Vikash Mishra (chairman) and Vivek Mishra (CEO) in 2017, the Noida-based startup currently offers nine different drones with payloads ranging from 4.4 pounds to 441 pounds, covering an average distance of between 12 to 124 miles. These drones include the mR10 operational drone swarm, the mR20 for high-altitude logistics resupply, the X8 compact platform for maritime patrol and situational awareness at sea, and the Bharat lightweight man-carried drone for quick surveillance in complex terrain. The startup has more than 10 customers, all of which are Indian government agencies, including the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as armed police forces such as the Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. The Mishra brothers conceptualized Raphe mPhibr in 2016 while Vikash was studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Vivek was at the Georgia Institute of Technology. For the initial three to four years, the co-founders focused on understanding the operational needs of the defense forces, along with other requirements, such as environmental and terrain considerations. Then, they began building multicopters to meet the needs of the Indian troops, gradually expanding to fixed-wing and vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. 'In the process, we understood that since the need is new and the area is niche, we focused on both research and manufacturing because we didn't want to be constrained by what [already existed],' Vivek said in an interview. The startup began its journey with a 2,000-square-foot research facility in 2017 but expanded to a 100,000-square-foot combined research and manufacturing facility. This has now been expanded to a 650,000-square-foot facility as a result of the fresh capital infusion, which also saw the participation of its existing investor Think Investments. 'From day one, we have been against the transfer of technology,' Vivek told TechCrunch. Raphe mPhibr domestically produces its flight controllers, batteries, and all components and materials required to build drone structures, including subtractive metals, thermoplastics, carbon fiber composites, and even wire harnesses. It also develops proprietary autopilots and inertial navigation systems at its facility. However, the startup imports radars and high-end cameras, which it also plans to manufacture in-house within 18 months. Vivek told TechCrunch that the startup does not rely on China for any of the components it uses, thereby avoiding some supply chain challenges. 'The biggest challenge was setting up the facility and doing research,' he said. 'Because doing research in India is slightly more expensive compared to the U.S., just because the infrastructure is quite well set up there… getting the machinery is a challenge, installation, and commissioning is a challenge, and then operating it, again, is a challenge because finding the people who can operate these is hard.' Raphe mPhibr has addressed some of these hurdles by focusing on training and developing its employees from its early days, he added. The startup also utilizes AI on its drones for object detection in surveillance scenarios, automatically switching between frequency bands to adapt to electronic warfare, and employing operational UAV swarm intelligence to make decentralized decisions using AI. In recent months, Raphe mPhibr has partnered with Germany's Hensoldt and France's Safran to collaborate on developing new sensors, as well as with France's Dassault Systèmes for software simulation requirements. Raphe mPhibr also plans to expand beyond India and enter new markets. To this end, it has already participated in defense air shows, including those in Dubai and Paris. Vivek told TechCrunch that the startup already has some export licenses and is seeking more but declined to share specifics. 'There are very advanced talks happening with a few government agencies across the world, and very soon, hopefully, this year, we will start delivering there as well,' he said. In the past 12 months, Raphe mPhibr has sold over 300 drones and has experienced up to 4x revenue growth over the last four years, Vivek said, without disclosing specific numbers. He also stated that the startup has been profitable for each of the last four years and is projected to go public within the next two to five years. Raphe mPhibr has around 600 employees, with 150 dedicated to research and over 250 to production. To date, the startup has secured a total of $145 million in equity funding. 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