Raphe mPhibr Raises 100 Million Dollars in Largest Defense Startup Funding

Indian drone maker Raphe mPhibr has raised $100 million from international investors, India's biggest venture round for a defense startup. General Catalyst, a US-based investor, led the funding, with contributions from some existing investors such as Think Investments. Raphe was established in 2017 and had raised $45 million earlier to make drones for surveillance and logistics, primarily for Indian military and paramilitary clients.

Vivek Mishra, CEO of Raphe mPhibr added that “The firm will ramp up manufacturing and introduce drones with longer range and payload capabilities and venture into global markets. Raphe's drones already travel distances of 200 kilometers carrying payloads of 100 kilograms. The firm has a 60,000-square-meter factory in Noida that can produce 6,000 drones per year, equipped with 3D printing, mil-spec electronics, and carbon-fiber composites.”

Key Highlights-

Raphe mPhibr secures 100 million dollars led by General Catalyst

Plans to expand drone manufacturing and enter global markets

Marks largest venture funding round for an Indian defense startup

The new capital follows global VC slowdowns, an indication of increased interest in India's defense tech space. Defense stocks such as IdeaForge, Zen Technologies, and Paras Defence have jumped as a result of India's higher UAV deployments amid its fight with Pakistan.

Tracxn data reveals Indian defense startups have raised $514 million since 2015, with 65% of them since 2023. General Catalyst stated Raphe's innovations align with India's self-reliance and global resilience objectives, making its defense sector more robust for the future.