Posted on 02/06/2026 4:16:04 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
U.S. autonomous drone delivery and logistics startup Zipline said Wednesday it will set up operations in Houston and Phoenix early this year, as part of an expansion that will be propelled by $600 million in fresh investment.
The round, which values the company at $7.6 billion, will be used to expand to at least four U.S. states in 2026, the company said. Several existing and new investors, including Fidelity Management & Research Company, Baillie Gifford, Valor Equity Partners, and Tiger Global participated in the funding round. Founded in 2014, Zipline developed its own drone delivery ecosystem, including the logistics software, launch and landing systems, and the aircraft. The company got its commercial start in 2016 using its autonomous drones to deliver blood in Rwanda. Today, Zipline’s drones deliver food, retail, agriculture, and health products in five African countries, several cities in the United States, and Japan.
Last year, Zipline launched a home delivery service in the U.S. that lets customers order food and retail goods via an app. The home delivery service uses Zipline’s Platform 2 drones, which are designed to carry up to eight pounds and travel to customers within a 10-mile radius. Its larger Platform 1 drones are used for long-range deliveries for enterprise, business, and government that can cover 120 miles round trip. The P2 platform started in Pea Ridge, Arkansas, and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex with Walmart, and more than a dozen restaurant brands, according to Zipline.
It has also announced plans to launch in Seattle. Other commercial partners include Panera, Chipotle, Crumbl, Blaze Pizza, Wendy’s, and Little Caesars. That geographic expansion in the United States has fueled Zipline’s delivery numbers. In 2024, the company completed 1 million drone deliveries to customers; this week, Zipline said it had surpassed 2 million deliveries. The company also said its U.S. deliveries have grown by about 15% week-over-week for the last seven months.
Co-founder and CEO Keller Cliffton views 2026 as the company’s breakout year. “Autonomous logistics has been maturing for more than a decade, and the last year has made it unmistakably clear that when deliveries are faster, cleaner, safer, and cheaper, demand isn’t just high, it grows exponentially,” Cliffton said in a statement. “In 2026 autonomous logistics will become an everyday staple for people across several states in the U.S. That transformation starts with Houston and my home town of Phoenix, which we’ll begin serving early this year, and then expand to even more places across the country throughout the year.”
Zipline isn’t alone in the nascent industry of drone delivery. Other competitors include Flytrex, DroneUp, Amazon Prime Air, and Wing, the Alphabet-owned subsidiary that has also partnered with Walmart. Wing announced plans to expand to another 150 Walmart stores through 2027.
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When my next-door falls asleep beside his pool, I can hear him snoring all the way from my deck. Me being a high-strung sensitive type, it’s difficult to ignore.
I would pay good money if someone could pilot a drone and drop a cinder block from about 300 feet in the air.
I’d probably get a little wet, but it would be worth it.
😀
Walmart delivers from 4 miles away from my house.
Amazon delivers from 35 miles away.
Let’s consider drugs.
Publix is one mile away.
A package with my GPS coordinates would be dropped in a chute.
A helicopter drone would drop it off at those GPS coordinates and fly back for another package.
Meals from the Chinese restaurant would be larger.
What if six people wanted to chop down, with soups, egg rolls and soda?
That would require a pretty big drone. The delivery might weigh 10 pounds.
I assume the order system would have access to my delivery GPS.
What if I lived in an apartment complex? apartment tower?
Africa always wins said many who tried there.
I live in a senior complex with lots of lawns and trees. Cats running around too, very pleasant. My daily AMZ delivery of whatever is delivered right to my door. Thank you Mr.Bezoz, I really love AMZ.
Those %$!@#$ drones could kill and injure our cats. However, I wouldn’t mind having a drone weaponized to land on a seriously b@tchy neighbor. Anyone have Jeff’s phone number?
Anyone have Jeff’s phone number?
I do.
I text him all of the time with great new ideas ;-)
Thanks. Hope he listens to you. :<}
I know these guys, and watched them work for Walmart in Northwest Arkansas.
Great company and some of the friendliest people I’ve ever met. Their African efforts were astounding.
I cheer this company and their tech. Oh and if you get a chance be awed by their catching nets. It’s really top notch gps mastery there.
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