DBT Bureau
Pune, 3 July 2024
Bhubaneswar-based BonV Aero, a company specializing in manufacturing logistics drones, has achieved a significant milestone by winning the global championship of ‘Meet the Drapers – Season 6’, the world’s largest pitch competition. This victory not only cements BonV Aero’s position as a top deep-tech manufacturer of drones in the defense and aerospace sectors but also represents the first time an Indian company has won the grand prize of ₹14 Crores in a US TV show.
Commenting on this achievement, Satyabrata Satpathy, Co-founder & CEO, BonV Aero said, “We are thrilled to have secured the top prize at Meet the Drapers, which underscores our dedication to excellence and innovation in the defence and aerospace sector. This success is a testament to the hard work and vision of our team and it reinforces Odisha’s growing prominence on the global entrepreneurial stage.”
The panel of judges at Meet the Drapers included prominent figures such as venture capitalist Tim Draper and family, renowned for their early-stage investments in groundbreaking companies such as Tesla, Space X, Hotmail, Skype and 25 other unicorns. “Tim Draper’s endorsement of this innovative approach and vision is a tremendous honour” said Barada P. Panigrahy, CEO, SSU Innovation Foundation, Sri Sri University. “His recognition further validates the mission to revolutionise logistics through cutting-edge drone technology.”
BonV Aero’s recent accomplishments extend beyond this competition victory and funding success.BonV’s aerial vehicle is carbon-free, has zero emissions and will play an important role in India’s journey to Net Zero in 2070.“The company has successfully delivered advanced logistics drones to the Indian Army, showcasing its capability to operate in high-altitude and challenging environments, including altitudes above 10,000 feet”, said CTO and Co-founder Abinash Sahoo.
“It is a big achievement not only for BonV Aero, but for all startups of our state. It is a global validation for our state’s startup ecosystem and it will inspire all. We are happy that Startup Odisha is growing and we consider BonV Aero’s success as ours. I am happy to share with you that a strong base of human resources and technical know-how is being developed in Odisha, which will help future startups in the field of Drone tech and aviation.” said Omkar Rai, Executive Chairman of Startup Odisha.
