Manna Aero launches US expansion and opens Tulsa manufacturing hub | Ukraine news
An Irish drone startup aims to rapidly scale in the US with a Tulsa manufacturing hub and plans to hire hundreds of workers. Anticipate regulatory milestones and local impact.
Manna Aero, an Irish startup in autonomous drone delivery, plans to broaden its presence in the U.S. market. Founder and CEO Bobby Healy told TechCrunch that the company is currently gearing up for a large-scale American expansion.
After raising $50 million in venture funding in April, Manna Aero announced the creation of a new operations and manufacturing center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The company expects the center to provide around 1,000 jobs over the next few years. Construction of the plant has already begun, and production is planned to start in about a year.
After construction begins, the team will focus on scaling the operations side to around 200–300 people over the next 12 months. The speed of hiring at the plant will depend on growth outside Tulsa, as the company is considering six other U.S. cities. If the strategy proves successful, Manna intends to begin expanding into these cities by the end of 2027.
Plan for expansion in the U.S. market
The main goal is to position Manna Aero as one of the leading drone-delivery players in the United States, competing with Zipline, Amazon, and Wing from Google.
It’s the market size, consumer behavior, and the fact that aggregators (DoorDash, Uber Eats) have consolidated the market and run it so well. The United States has the market that everyone wants.
– Bobby Healy
Manna’s drone model envisions using automated, remotely piloted aircraft that do not land on the ground. The package descends via a cable – the same approach used by Wing and Zipline. The company has adopted a hybrid business model: a pay-per-flight delivery service along with various routes to reach its goal through partnerships with DoorDash, Deliveroo, and Uber Eats in Europe, as well as direct deals with companies and its own consumer app.
Currently, Manna’s headquarters are in Ireland, where its research, administrative, and manufacturing units are concentrated. However, the company paused drone delivery operations in Ireland last month due to a lack of regulatory norms that would enable scaling.
Instead, the startup is directing its resources and capital to the United States. The company has named former Ryanair chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs as its executive chairman and president to spearhead the expansion.
Healy emphasized that the policies of the Trump administration and the Federal Aviation Administration have given the industry a “turbo boost” in the country, and that is reflected in investments.
According to Healy, the growth of Amazon, Wing, and Zipline over the past year demonstrates the positive impact of such regulatory support. “We may be a little behind the curve, but we will catch up quickly,” he said.
Although Manna has roots in Ireland, its activity in the U.S. market is growing: in 2023 the company began operating in the AllianceTexas Mobility Zone near Dallas, Texas, as part of Hillwood’s planned cluster development. According to Healy, Manna has expanded its presence in the Dallas–Fort Worth area and plans to continue scaling there over the next year.
The growing footprint in the United States comes amid a friendly regulatory environment and rising demand for drone delivery, creating favorable conditions for rapid growth for the startup.
In summary, Manna Aero’s expansion into the United States unlocks new opportunities for manufacturing and employment, while testing regulatory and market conditions in the U.S., where competition for drone-delivery market leadership centers around players such as Zipline, Amazon, and Wing.
