Indian eVTOL developer Sarla Aviation has raised USD 10 million in Series A1 funding. The round was led by Accel and Nikhil Kamath, with participation from angel investors including Binny Bansal, Sriharsha Majety and others.
“This milestone funding enables Sarla Aviation to accelerate its mission of transforming transportation in India by offering affordable, efficient, and sustainable air mobility solutions,” said the company in a press release. “As urbanization accelerates and traffic congestion worsens in Indian cities, Sarla provides instant mobility solutions that bypass road-bound infrastructure, envisioning a future where Indians can seamlessly live, work, and thrive without the limitations of ground transportation. Founded in 2024 by Adrian Schmidt, Rakesh Gaonkar, and Shivam Chauhan, the team bring years of experience from leading global eVTOL players and are building a world-class team, combining global expertise with local insights to set new benchmarks in urban mobility.
“Sarla’s hybrid-lift-and-cruise eVTOL offers the highest payload in the market, capable of carrying up to 680 kg—allowing 35% more passengers per flight at 4X lower ticket prices compared to western competitors. This innovation positions Sarla Aviation’s flying taxis as a practical, affordable, and efficient solution for mass mobility.
According to Adrian Schmidt, Co-Founder and CEO of Sarla Aviation. “Our first priority is to build a mass mobility system that serves and enables India like cars once transformed and enabled the United States….We also plan to launch a free-of-cost air ambulance service, addressing the urgent need for rapid medical response and saving countless lives by eliminating traffic-related delays. By prioritizing simplicity and affordability, we aim to create a scalable solution that meets the needs of tomorrow’s Viksit Bharat and fuels the country’s ambition to become a global superpower.”
Other angel investors participating in the round include Abhiraj Singh Bhal (Urban Company), Abhishek Goyal (Tracxn), Ramakant Sharma (LivSpace), Sujeet Kumar (Udaan), Manish Agarwal (Kratos) and Sandeep Nailwal (Polygon).
Sarla is set to unveil its first flying taxi prototype on January 17, 2025, at Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, in New Delhi. The company will also initiate test flight campaigns and accelerate the creation of additional prototypes, aiming for market launch by 2028.
For more information
https://www.sarla-aviation.com/news-stories/sarla-raises-10m-from-accel-nikhil-kamath-and-pioneers