Rwanda-based logistics firm Zipline has raised US$250m (£180.5m) to further develop its drone delivery service, which distributes medical supplies and Covid-19 vaccines.
This latest funding will help the start-up to advance its integrated service, including an autonomy platform, aircraft, fulfilment systems, and operations. The funding will also fuel its continued expansion into new industries and geographies.
According to Zipline, the investment will enable it to transform systems like healthcare and commerce with instant logistics, and strengthen its support of local communities.
New investors included Fidelity, Intercorp, Emerging Capital Partners and Reinvent Capital, alongside ongoing support from Baillie Gifford, Temasek, and Katalyst Ventures.
Since launching in 2016, Zipline has since flown 10 million autonomous miles, distributed two million vaccine doses and completed over 150,000 commercial deliveries.
Furthermore, it has partnered with Pfizer to design and test an end-to-end delivery solution to deliver all Covid-19 vaccines safely, efficiently, and equitably in countries where Zipline operates.
It has expanded its service hours in Rwanda to offer the first 24/7 autonomous delivery service in the world. Zipline also signed a partnership with the Ministry of Health in Ghana to scale to four additional distribution centres that will cover 24 million people, 90% of the country’s population.
Additional partnerships with Toyota Group enable it to enter the Japanese market, and Walmart to provide on-demand delivery of health and wellness products to the U.S.
