Flying taxi enterprise Sarla Aviation has successfully secured $10 million in Series A1 funding, spearheaded by Accel. This funding round also attracted contributions from notable angel investors such as Binny Bansal, Nikhil Kamath, Sriharsha Majety, Abhiraj Singh Bhal from Urban Company, Abhishek Goyal from Tracxn, Ramakant Sharma from LivSpace, Sujeet Kumar from Udaan, Manish Agarwal from Kratos, and Sandeep Nailwal from Polygon.
Sarla Aviation intends to utilise these funds to enhance its mission of revolutionising transportation in India by providing affordable, efficient, and sustainable air mobility solutions. The Co-Founder and CEO of Sarla Aviation, Adrian Schmidt, expressed that the flying taxis are not solely aimed at offering instant and cost-effective air mobility; they signify a significant step towards realising India’s full economic potential and addressing critical issues hindering productivity, such as traffic congestion and pollution.
He further mentioned that with the backing of investors, they are expediting the advancement of their technology, enlarging their team, and setting up a cutting-edge research and development centre. Their top priority is to develop a mass mobility system that effectively serves and empowers India, similar to the transformative role of cars in the United States.
Additionally, Schmidt disclosed plans for a complimentary air ambulance service to meet the pressing demand for quick medical responses.
The company is set to unveil its inaugural flying taxi prototype on January 17, 2025, at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 in New Delhi, aiming for market introduction by 2028.
Sarla Aviation was established in 2024 by Schmidt, Rakesh Gaonkar, and Shivam Chauhan. The company claims that its hybrid-lift-and-cruise eVTOL boasts the highest payload capacity in the market, able to transport up to 680 kg, which permits 35% more passengers per flight at four times lower ticket prices compared to Western counterparts.
Pratik Agarwal, Principal at Accel, remarked that the company’s focus on cost-effectiveness and reliability may serve as a model for other rapidly urbanising regions across the globe.
