Defense tech startup Zebu raises $1 Mn in pre-Series A round

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Defense-tech startup Zebu has raised $1 million in a pre-Series A financing round led by Bluehill VC. The proceeds will be used to accelerate four of its mission-critical drones from prototype to battlefield deployment, supporting India’s defense modernization and strengthening indigenous military capabilities, Zebu said in a press release. Launched in 2021 by Santosh Balajee Banisetty, Zebu is a defense-tech startup that develops mission-ready counter-drone systems for armed forces globally. The startup has introduced four products for the Indian armed forces, including a hostile drone-neutralizing IAF Net Drone with a six-cartridge system, a sea-surface combat and rescue drone for the Indian Coast Guard, a swarm-enabled offensive combat drone for the IAF, and a tethered surveillance drone for Army border patrols. According to market research, the global counter-drone market is expected to reach $11 billion by 2030. The Hyderabad-based company stated that the IAF Net Capture Drone—a sky sentinel capable of trapping hostile drones mid-air like a futuristic spiderweb—has evolved from a skeletal model to radar integration over the last six months and is now approaching military-grade certification milestones. It is also in advanced talks with a top defense manufacturer to supply its drones. Zebu is building an Anti-Drone Swarm System for the Air Force, featuring rapid-fire pneumatic launchers and set for operational readiness by late 2025. It is designed to overwhelm enemy drones with coordinated strikes. The Army’s 24x7 “Eye in the Sky,” the Tethered Surveillance Drone, could see mass deployment by mid-2025, offering uninterrupted border monitoring and already approved by multiple regiments. Beyond government contracts, Zebu is expanding into commercial markets by adapting its military-grade technology for enterprise use. It claims that its proprietary Ground Control Station (GCS) is attracting strong interest from private OEMs across India, the U.S., and Southeast Asia.