Defence-tech startup Zebu raises $1M in pre-series A round

The Hyderabad-based, Zebu, a next-generation defense-tech startup pioneering in advanced counter-drone and unmanned systems for the armed forces, has raised $1 million in a pre-series A round led by Bluehill VC.

According to a media release, “The funds will fast-track four of Zebu’s mission-critical drones from prototype to battlefield deployment.”

Zebu has developed 4 products for the Indian armed forces —

With the current funding, it proposes to accelerate advanced field testing of these systems, with production readiness with an aim to be a key supplier to the Indian armed forces. 

Zebu is already preparing for the next funding round of $5M for integration into armed forces and international market expansion, the release said.

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.”

Founded in 2021 by Santosh Balajee Banisetty, Zebu has achieved major breakthroughs across four combat-ready unmanned systems, bringing them closer to battlefield deployment. 

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 release said. 

It is also in advance talks with a top defense manufacturer to supply its drones. 

Zebu 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.

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.”

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. It has just notched its first commercial win with a custom high-performance battery pack for nano drones, signalling immediate market traction for its indigenous technology. 

It 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.

It 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.

Beyond government contracts, Zebu is aggressively expanding into commercial markets by adapting its military-grade technology for enterprise use. 

Zebu’s strategic focus on building a robust intellectual property portfolio ensures it can meet both national security standards and the demands of global commerce, he said adding that “ With multiple products reaching production readiness, early revenue traction, and a rapidly growing IP base, Zebu is poised to become India’s most vertically integrated counter-drone and unmanned systems company.”

This year’s roadmap positions Zebu not just as a supplier of defense technologies, but as a full-spectrum provider of unmanned platforms and critical subsystems for both military and commercial markets worldwide, he said.

The company plans to hire a CBO and defense advisors. 

Published on May 8, 2025