Sarla Aviation has raised $10 million in a Series A1 funding round led by Accel and Nikhil Kamath, with participation from angel investors including Binny Bansal, Sriharsha Majety, and other prominent founders from India. According to a company press release, the funds will support the development of the company’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and expand its operations.
Founded in 2024 by Adrian Schmidt, Rakesh Gaonkar, and Shivam Chauhan, Sarla Aviation focuses on urban air mobility solutions. The company’s hybrid-lift-and-cruise eVTOL aircraft is designed to carry up to 680 kg, which the company claims accommodates 35% more passengers per flight compared to some competitors. Sarla is targeting a 2028 market launch and plans to introduce a prototype of its flying taxi on January 17, 2025, at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo in New Delhi.
In addition to advancing its core air mobility services, Sarla intends to launch a free air ambulance service aimed at improving access to emergency medical care. The company plans to use the funding to establish a research and development center, accelerate test flight campaigns, and build additional prototypes.
The funding round attracted several prominent angel investors, including Abhiraj Singh Bhal, Abhishek Goyal, Ramakant Sharma, Sujeet Kumar, Manish Agarwal, and Sandeep Nailwal.
Pratik Agarwal of Accel commented that Sarla’s approach to addressing urban challenges such as traffic congestion and pollution positions it as a potential model for urban air mobility in rapidly developing regions.
Sarla’s efforts come amid growing interest in eVTOL technology as a solution for urban transportation challenges globally.
On Date: