Manna Aero Expands US Drone Delivery Operations
Irish autonomous drone delivery startup Manna Aero is establishing a new operations and manufacturing center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The company plans to hire up to 1,000 employees for the facility over the next several years.
Manna Aero, the Ireland-based autonomous drone delivery startup, is set to significantly expand its U.S. operations. The company announced plans to establish a new operational and manufacturing center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a move expected to create up to 1,000 jobs over the next several years.
Following a $50 million funding round, Manna Aero aims to enter the U.S. market with a substantial physical presence. Construction on the Tulsa facility is underway, with manufacturing operations anticipated to commence within approximately one year. The company also plans to scale its operational team in the U.S. to between 200 and 300 employees in the coming 12 months.
Beyond Tulsa, Manna Aero is evaluating six additional U.S. cities for future expansion. The company aims to begin operations in these new locations by the end of 2027, contingent on the success of its initial rollouts. This expansion positions Manna Aero to compete with established players in the drone delivery sector.
Founder and CEO Bobby Healy cited the sheer size of the U.S. market and consumer behavior as key drivers for the expansion. He noted the strong existing infrastructure of food delivery aggregators like DoorDash and Uber Eats, indicating a mature market receptive to advanced delivery solutions. Manna Aero intends to become a major U.S. drone delivery operator, competing with companies such as Zipline, Amazon, and Google's Wing.