Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account. Manna Air Delivery raises $50m Series B Business Wire Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content Investors in the round include ARK Invest, known for backing companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Tesla and SpaceX, the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and Schooner Capital, alongside existing investors Coca-Cola HBC and Molten Ventures. Article content As an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) delivery pioneer, Manna has operated in six locations across its native Ireland, as well as in Finland and Texas over the past seven years, delivering items including books, medical supplies such as antigen tests, food and clothing. Article content The company’s UAV operations are designed to make communities more accessible while making last-mile delivery greener, safer and more efficient. Article content Recently Manna announced a partnership with Uber, adding to its existing partnerships with Deliveroo, Just Eat and DoorDash. Customers can order through the Manna app or directly via its partner platforms, with autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) delivering everyday items to suburban communities within minutes. Through these integrations, Manna is positioning itself as a core infrastructure provider for the next generation of mobility and instant logistics. Article content Speaking about the company’s mission, CEO and Founder Bobby Healy said: “Manna Air Delivery is dedicated to improving the world by making lightning-fast suburban deliveries affordable, accessible, green and safe. Our technology reduces road congestion, cuts emissions and helps local businesses deliver everyday goods to communities faster.” Commenting on the funding, Healy added, “We’ve proven the technology and the economics of autonomous delivery. On daily deliveries in suburban areas we are a world leader. Now it’s about scale. We’re expanding rapidly in the United States with plans to launch up to 40 new bases as we build the infrastructure for the next generation of logistics. It’s been exciting to see the enthusiasm for aerial delivery in technology-forward markets like the US and others.”Orhan Gazelle, Managing Director at Schooner Capital said, “Manna is building one of the most compelling real-world applications of autonomous technology we have seen. The company has demonstrated that drone delivery can operate safely, efficiently and at scale, and we believe it has the potential to fundamentally reshape last-mile logistics. We are excited to support Manna as it expands internationally and continues to build the infrastructure for the future of autonomous delivery.”For independent retailers, Manna’s platform enables profitable suburban last-mile delivery, allowing local businesses from cafés and restaurants to pharmacies, bookshops and clothing stores to reach customers in minutes without the cost and complexity of road-based delivery. Manna was one of the first drone delivery companies globally to demonstrate positive unit economics for suburban retail delivery. Article content