Amid Indo-Pak Tensions, Defence Startup Zebu Secures $1M to Unleash Battlefield-Ready Drones

Zebu, a next-generation defense-tech startup pioneering advanced counter-drone and unmanned systems for the armed forces, has raised $1 million in a pre-series A round led by Bluehill VC.
Bluehill VC is a Rs 350 crore Chennai based deep-tech focused venture capital firm specifically focused on IP in engineering and science domains within the deep-tech umbrella.

The funds will fast-track four of Zebu’s mission-critical drones from prototype to battlefield deployment, supporting India’s defense modernization and strengthening indigenous military capabilities.

Founded in 2021 by Santosh Balajee Banisetty, a visionary Ph.D. in Intelligent Systems and Robotics, Zebu has developed four drone systems for the Indian armed forces, each designed for a specific use. These include a drone for the Indian Air Force that neutralises hostile drones using a six-cartridge net system.

For the Indian Coast Guard, the company has built a drone for sea surface combat and rescue operations. Another drone, also for the Air Force, is designed for swarm-enabled offensive missions. A tethered surveillance drone has been developed for the Army to support border patrol and monitoring activities.

With the current funding, Zebu will accelerate advanced field testing of these systems, with production readiness with an aim to be a key supplier to the Indian armed forces. The company is already preparing for the next funding round of $5M for integration into armed forces, and international market expansion.

“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,” says Sridhar Parthasarathi, General Partner, Bluehill.VC.


“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.”

Zebu has achieved major breakthroughs across four combat-ready unmanned systems, bringing them closer to battlefield deployment. Highlights include setting a Guinness World Record in 2024 for the longest drone endurance under 5kg, affirming Zebu’s leadership in UAV innovation.

"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,” says Santosh Balajee, Founder CEO, Zebu.


“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."

With seven patents filed, two trademarks secured, and additional proprietary IP under active development, Zebu is on the right track to emerge as a trusted DefTech supplier for the armed forces.


The Company just notched its first commercial win with a custom high-performance battery pack for nano drones, signalling immediate market traction for its indigenous technology. Zebu plans to manufacture most components in house guaranteeing complete control and autonomy on the supply chain.

Zebu’s all-Indian Ground Control Station (GCS), a next-generation “mission brain” that empowers commanders to control entire drone fleets from a single, unified interface, is currently, undergoing testing with the Indian Coast Guard, the GCS is poised to replace costly and clunky foreign alternatives.

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.


Each made in India Zebu component is one less arrow in US-China’s defense-supply quiver.
Beyond government contracts, Zebu is aggressively expanding into commercial markets by adapting its military-grade technology for enterprise use. Its custom drone battery packs mark the first wave of subsystem commercialization, with advanced camera gimbals and electronic speed controllers being repurposed for industrial inspection, logistics, and unmanned operations.

Meanwhile, Zebu’s proprietary Ground Control Station (GCS) is attracting strong interest from private OEMs across India, the U.S., and Southeast Asia. – TWL Bureau
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