Drone startup Raphe mPhibr has raised $100 million in a funding round led by General Catalyst.
The round also saw participation from existing investors, including Amal Parikh, Think Investments and other prominent high-net-worth family offices.
The newly raised capital will be used to scale manufacturing, accelerate research and development (R&D) and strengthen strategic partnerships both in India and global markets.
This is the biggest private funding round ever for an Indian company in the drone industry, bringing Raphe mPhibr’s total funding to $145 million so far.
“We are proud to join forces with Raphe mPhibr on their transformative journey to redefine engineering-led manufacturing across a spectrum of critical applications,” said Neeraj Arora, Managing Director at General Catalyst.
“What sets this team apart is their unwavering, mission-driven ethos, coupled with an expansive vision and formidable technological depth. The products emerging from Raphe mPhibr are already making a tangible impact on the ground, signalling what we believe will be a monumental shift. Their work is not only accelerating India’s path to strategic self-reliance but also embodies the essence of our Global Resilience thesis at General Catalyst—building for a future that is secure, sovereign and sustainable.”
Raphe mPhibr was founded in 2016 by Vikash Mishra, Vivek Mishra, and Nitin Katiyar. The company is based in Noida and focuses on building drones, self-flying aircraft systems, and advanced electronics for defense use.
It runs a fully equipped aerospace factory where everything is done in-house — from design and testing to working with metals and composites, making engines, and developing electronics.
Raphe mPhibr claims that its drones—including the mR10 (a drone swarm system), mR20 (a high-altitude logistics drone), Bharat (a surveillance drone), and X8 (a maritime patrol drone)—are actively used in various terrains across India. The company has also developed India’s first locally made military-grade autopilot system and a lightweight internal combustion engine specifically designed for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Raphe mPhibr’s systems are gaining attention in cities like Paris, Dubai, and London as the company works to become a key player in the global aerospace supply chain. The new funding will help them grow manufacturing, speed up research and development, and strengthen important partnerships both in India and internationally.
Raphe mPhibr has over 600 employees and owns more than 100 unique intellectual properties (IPs).
The company supports the Indian government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign defense systems.
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