Irish drone delivery firm Manna closes in on $50m funding round backed by Ark Invest

Ireland-based drone delivery company Manna is reported to be on the verge of announcing a $50 million (€43.4 million) funding round, in a development that underscores accelerating investor appetite for autonomous aerial delivery technology. The company, which has completed more than 250,000 drone deliveries across its operational network, delivers food, clothing, books, and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals to customers in Ireland, Finland, and the US state of Texas.

The Irish Times reported that the round is said to include a commitment from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), alongside participation from Ark Invest, the fund managed by Cathie Wood and known for backing OpenAI and Tesla. Boston-based Schooner Capital and Coca-Cola HBC, the strategic bottling partner of The Coca-Cola Company, are also understood to have invested.

Manna is led by Bobby Healy and counts Uber, Deliveroo, and Just Eat among its commercial partners. The company has completed 60,000 deliveries from its hub in Dublin 15 alone and has been actively pursuing new sites in Ireland, including Tallaght and Dundrum.

One investor cited in the report indicated that a successful close of the current round could pave the way for a further, larger capital injection process.

The company has also been extending its operations into the healthcare sector. Manna recently partnered with the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin to test urgent medical deliveries by drone, with a flight simulation run between the Rotunda and Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown demonstrating the potential to safely transport blood, medical supplies, and pathology samples between hospitals and laboratories.

Supporters of drone delivery technology point to its potential to ease urban congestion, reduce carbon emissions, and provide safer and faster logistics infrastructure.

View the full report on Manna's funding.