Swoop Aero

About

Swoop Aero builds and operates medium-size eVTOL drones and two-way delivery networks transporting vaccines, medicines and samples using modular swappable payloads, off-grid power, and operated or leased aircraft.

Mission

Swoop Aero builds and operates medium-size electric VTOL UAVs designed for logistics use, capable of cruising up to ~100 miles with a 10-pound payload and quick modular reconfiguration. The company has operated in places like south Malawi and the DR Congo for the past three years, completing its 20,000th flight and delivering its millionth item. Its aircraft are designed for off-grid power (solar and similar) and use easily swappable parts so units can be converted between cargo, scientific, or rescue roles. Swoop’s go-to-market approach is to establish a ground presence and bring a suite of aircraft online to meet specific high-priority delivery needs, then expand fleets and customers once networks are operational. The business mixes operating its own networks with leasing aircraft to other operators (roughly an 80/20 split). Management plans expansion to additional markets, including the U.S., and intends to raise new capital to build out multiple networks. Swoop Aero is a drone-powered logistics company that focuses on last- and first-mile delivery. Founders Eric Peck and Joshua Tepper are leading efforts to transform how goods move by making access to the skies seamless. The company played a role delivering vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic when international air routes were closed. Main Sequence announced Swoop Aero had joined its portfolio following a successful $16M Series B round led by Main Sequence. The article's headline and post note the founders turned down a $100M takeover offer. Further coverage is linked via The Australian Financial Review in the announcement. Founded in 2017, Swoop Aero builds and operates two-way drone networks to transport medicines, pathology samples and other essential medical supplies. The company runs operations in five countries through partnerships with global health organizations including UNICEF, UKAid and DFID, and says it has impacted over two million people. During the COVID-19 pandemic it remotely piloted commercially used drones to deliver PPE and critical supplies to Malawi while piloting the aircraft from Australia. In Malawi Swoop Aero tripled its fleet after a 300% increase in samples carried between March and April. The company plans to scale from “millions to tens of millions” and aims to service 100 million people by 2025, while establishing a presence in Australia and New Zealand and expanding its medical logistics offering. It is also pursuing aviation system certification for urban operations and working with the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand and CASA to achieve BVLOS approvals and reduce regulatory friction. Swoop Aero is a Melbourne-based drone logistics company founded in 2017 that deploys two-way drone networks to deliver vaccines, medical supplies, and time-sensitive samples to remote communities. The company completed a four-month commercial vaccine-delivery trial in Vanuatu that enabled approximately 500 children to be vaccinated across 80 islands. It has commenced vaccine transport flights in Équateur province, DRC, conducting 50 flights over five days covering over 2,000 km and delivering two months of vaccines and supplies to four health centers while returning with blood samples. Swoop emphasizes rapid point-to-point delivery (about 20 minutes per flight versus a typical six-hour round trip) to bridge last-mile gaps in healthcare. Its operations team includes former air force pilots, current commercial pilots, and leading engineers. The company plans to use new funding to prepare for production at scale and to enter markets in Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia in the second half of 2019 and beyond.

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