Zebu, a defense-tech startup, has raised $1 million in a pre-Series A funding round led by Bluehill VC.
The fresh funds raised to develop its four mission-critical drones from prototype to battlefield deployment and accelerate advanced field testing of these systems.
Founded in 2021 by Santosh Balajee Banisetty, Zebu is a defense-tech startup developing mission-ready advanced counter-drone and unmanned systems for the armed forces globally.
Zebu has developed four combat-ready unmanned systems, bringing them closer to battlefield deployment, 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.
In the last 6 months, IAF Net Capture Drone, a sky-sentinel that can trap hostile drones mid-air like a futuristic spiderweb, has gone from a skeletal model to radar integration to reaching military grade certification milestones. The Company is also in advanced talks with a top defense manufacturer to supply its drones.
Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Drone search and rescue drone has aced extreme tests—from thermal resilience, waterproof resistance and propulsion failure simulations. Its AI-powered “return-to-base” autonomy is being tested on actual Coast Guard ships currently and readying manufacturing facilities for commercial orders.
The Company is building an Anti-Drone Swarm System for the Air Force, with 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 24×7 Eye in the Sky, the Tethered Surveillance Drone, could see mass deployment by mid-2025, providing uninterrupted border monitoring and has already been approved by multiple regiments.
Zebu’s all-Indian Ground Control Station (GCS), a “mission brain” that empowers commanders to control entire drone fleets from a single, unified interface, is currently undergoing testing with the Indian Coast Guard.
Zebu plans to manufacture most components in-house, guaranteeing complete control and autonomy on the supply chain. The Company is also rapidly indigenizing critical components: building Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs) and military-grade stabilized camera gimbals in-house — eliminating foreign dependencies and supply chain vulnerabilities.
The company is already preparing for the next funding round of $5M for integration into the armed forces, and international market expansion. The Company is also looking to onboard key leaders in the organisation as it plans to hire a CBO and defense advisors.
Santosh Balajee, Founder CEO, Zebu, said, “The battlefield of the future is AI-led and unmanned, that is inevitable — Zebu is making it indigenously available. It’s not just exporting counter drone technology but exporting India’s defense sovereignty to the world stage. There is a massive opportunity to fill the vast gap that exists in integration of tech in our defense sector. Global arms markets restrict their defense sales to India, having homegrown brands like Zebu ensures India’s defense modernisation isn’t held hostage by foreign powers or inflated costs. This is Aatmanirbhar Bharat in action: sovereign technology, affordable excellence. It is our aim to accelerate Zebu’s growth, expand our global footprint, and play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of unmanned defense systems.”
Sridhar Parthasarathi, General Partner, Bluehill.VC, said, “The global counter drone market is expected to reach $11 billion by 2030. Zebu is rightly positioned to capture this market with its top-of-the-line offerings for the armed forces. Its drones have completed extreme tests and are now ready for deployment. We believe given the sensitive border that we share with our neighbours on both sides, such tech should be developed in India by an Indian company and such advancements will put India in a strong position when it comes to defending our borders and further empower our armed forces on the land, in the sky and oceans.”
