AN IRISH founded drone delivery service has announced plans to expand further into the US following a successful funding round.
Dublin-based Manna Air Delivery is set to create 400 new jobs across Ireland and the United States after raising $50m in Series B funding.
Investors include ARK Invest, which has backed companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Tesla and SpaceX, the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and Schooner Capital.
They join existing investors which include Coca-Cola HBC, Molten Ventures and Enterprise Ireland.
New roles will be created across a number of functions, specifically focusing on robotics, software engineering, mechanical engineering, aviation operations, ground operations and regulatory functions, with a strong focus on STEM disciplines, the Irish company confirmed this week.
Manna founder Bobby Healy (centre) has announced further expansion plans (Pic: Enterprise Ireland)The positions will be based across Manna’s Irish operational hubs and its expanding US operations, bringing the company’s total global headcount from 170 to over 570.
“Ireland is the foundation of everything we do,” Manna CEO and founder Bobby Healy said.
“We design and build our drones here, develop our software here, and have spent seven years refining our operations in communities across the country.
“These 400 new roles are high-quality STEM positions and we’re competing with some of the largest companies in the world and winning.
“This investment allows us to scale, in Ireland and across the United States where we already fly in Texas.
“A number of American cities and states, there have been very enthusiastic about the potential of aerial delivery for logistics and communities.”
Founded in 2019, Manna designs, builds and operates its drones and software from its headquarters in Dublin,
It is now one of the country’s most significant homegrown aviation and autonomous technology companies.
Enterprise Minister Peter Burke has welcomed the firm’s planned expansion.
“This announcement by Manna Air Delivery represents a powerful endorsement of Ireland’s standing as a global centre for innovation and advanced manufacturing,” he said.
“The creation of so many highly skilled positions across robotics, software engineering, aviation and regulatory disciplines underscores the depth and quality of Ireland’s STEM talent base and the ability of indigenous Irish firms to compete on the global stage in pioneering sectors such as autonomous aviation.”
Over the past seven years, Manna has operated its drone delivery services across Ireland in Blanchardstown (Dublin West), Balbriggan, Moneygall, Oranmore and Cork, as well as internationally in Texas and Finland.
The company has completed over 250,000 deliveries to date.
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See More: Drones, Ireland, Manna Air Delivery, US
