Bobby Healy’s drone delivery firm Manna has raised $50m in a new Series B funding round and the company has planned 400 extra jobs in Ireland and the US. The round has brought total funding to $110m.
Manna which employs 170 people has advertised positions in robotics software engineering aviation and regulatory functions at its Irish base and in the United States.
Investors in the round have included ARK Invest the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund and Schooner Capital along with existing backers such as Coca Cola HBC Molten Ventures and Enterprise Ireland. The company has completed more than 250,000 regulated drone flights and over 250,000 deliveries with popular items including hot drinks and fast food. Manna has operated in locations across Ireland including Blanchardstown Balbriggan Moneygall Oranmore and Cork as well as in Texas and Finland.
The funding has supported expansion plans into additional areas in Ireland and the US while the company has navigated planning processes and regulatory frameworks for drone operations.
Enterprise Trade and Employment Minister Peter Burke shared “This represents a powerful endorsement of Ireland standing as a global centre for innovation and advanced manufacturing. The creation of so many highly skilled positions across robotics software engineering aviation and regulatory disciplines underscores the depth and quality of Ireland Stem talent base and the ability of indigenous Irish firms to compete on the global stage in pioneering sectors such as autonomous aviation.”
Kevin Sherry executive director at Enterprise Ireland shared “We are excited to continue partnering with the company as it accelerates its international expansion substantially increasing its employment in Ireland. Manna is a highly dynamic and ambitious company led by serial entrepreneurs building a world class delivery platform from Ireland which is focused on deployment across global markets. Enterprise Ireland continued investment reflects its focus on supporting bold founders with ambition to scale internationally from an Irish base. Manna is a standout example of an Irish company with clear global growth opportunities driven from an Irish headquarters.”
Rebekah Brady interim director at the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund shared “Isif is committed to supporting Manna as part of our mandate to invest commercially in ways that deliver long term economic impact for Ireland and align with our focus on scaling indigenous businesses. Manna continued expansion demonstrates the global potential of innovative Irish founded companies operating at the forefront of autonomous aviation while creating high quality Stem employment in Ireland and scaling internationally.”
