Irish Startup Manna Aero Expands into the U.S. with Drone Factory

Irish drone delivery startup Manna Aero, specializing in autonomous drone delivery solutions, has announced a major expansion into the U.S. The company is investing in the construction of a factory and operations center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which will create approximately 1,000 jobs in the coming years. The project is funded by $50 million in venture capital secured in April. Construction has already begun, with drone production scheduled to start in 2025.

Over the next 12 months, Manna Aero will focus on expanding its operational team to 200–300 employees. Further development of the factory will depend on the company’s growth pace beyond Oklahoma. Manna Aero is currently evaluating expansion into six additional U.S. cities, with plans to begin operations in these markets by the end of 2027. Key competitors in the U.S. market include Zipline, Amazon, and Wing (a Google subsidiary).

Manna Aero’s CEO and founder, Bobby Healy, highlighted that the U.S. is a priority market due to strong delivery demand, efficient aggregator operations (DoorDash*, Uber Eats*), and a supportive regulatory environment. The company already has U.S. experience, testing its drones in the AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone (Dallas area) since 2023. Over the next year, Manna Aero plans to further expand its presence in the Dallas–Fort Worth region.

Manna Aero’s delivery technology relies on autonomous drones equipped with remote monitoring. Payloads are lowered via tether without requiring the drone to land. The company operates a hybrid business model, offering delivery-as-a-service (pay-per-flight) and partnering with aggregators (DoorDash*, Deliveroo, Uber Eats*) in Europe, as well as directly with businesses and through its own app.

Despite relocating its headquarters from Ireland due to regulatory constraints for scaling, Manna Aero maintains its R&D and administrative functions there. To drive its U.S. expansion, the company appointed Kenny Jacobs, former CMO of Ryanair, as executive chairman and president.