Zipline snaps up another $200M to fuel its drone delivery expansion

Zipline, a U.S.-based autonomous drone delivery and logistics startup founded in 2014, has secured an additional $200 million in funding to accelerate its expansion, particularly in the United States. This new capital builds on a funding round announced earlier in January and includes participation from a crypto investment firm. Zipline operates a comprehensive drone delivery ecosystem encompassing aircraft, launch and landing systems, and logistics software. Initially focused on delivering blood in Rwanda, the company has since broadened its services to deliver food, retail, agricultural, and health products across five African countries, multiple U.S. cities, and Japan. The fresh funding will support Zipline’s growth into at least four new U.S. states this year, with Houston, Phoenix, and Seattle already announced as upcoming markets. The company has experienced faster-than-expected growth in its home delivery service launched last year, with delivery volumes surpassing forecasts and customers ordering more frequently and in larger quantities. Zipline’s Platform 2 drones, capable of