Zipline Secures $1.5 Billion in Funding and Expands Walmart Drone Delivery Partnership
Autonomous drone logistics startup Zipline has raised $1.5 billion in a funding round led by Paradigm, WCM Investment Management, and Layer Global, bringing the company's valuation to $21.5 billion. The capital injection is intended to expand U.S. manufacturing facilities and scale its nationwide delivery network. In tandem with the fundraising, Zipline announced a significant expansion of its partnership with Walmart, moving from 21 active sites to a multi-year agreement covering 300 drone delivery locations across the United States. This follows years of regulatory progress, including obtaining FAA Part 135 air carrier certification. The company reported rapid growth in its delivery revenue share, which climbed from 10.8% to 34.9% between March and October of this year. Zipline currently operates across Africa, Japan, and several U.S. cities using both short-range Platform 2 drones and long-range Platform 1 systems.
Topics: autonomous technology drone delivery logistics strategic partnership venture capital