In a world of start-ups chasing buzzwords like “disruption” and “synergy” (🤢), three brainiacs from India’s top engineering colleges had a different idea: build drones so advanced and reliable, even the Indian Army would go, “Yup, we’ll take 500.”
Welcome to the sky-high story of EndureAir Systems, a drone company born in the research labs of IIT Kanpur that’s now taking flight globally. From disaster rescue ops in the Himalayas to shipping meds by air in remote villages, these folks don’t just build drones. They solve real problems, while having some seriously fun office parties along the way (we imagine there’s cake shaped like helicopters 🎂🚁).
From Classrooms to Cockpits: The Origin Story
Back in 2018, while the rest of the world was binge-watching Game of Thrones and pretending sourdough was a personality trait, a few professors and students at IIT Kanpur were quietly assembling what would become one of India’s most impressive aerospace startups.
Their mission? Simple but powerful:
Build world-class unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that can carry heavy payloads, fly long distances, and do useful stuff, like helping in disaster relief or making military operations smoother.
Thus, EndureAir Systems was born. And no, they didn’t name it after how long students had to “endure” thermodynamics class, though that would’ve been valid.
So What Makes These Drones So Special?
Let’s be honest: most consumer drones are flying GoPros. Cute, but not exactly changing the world. EndureAir’s flying machines? A whole other league.
Their drones have:
- Thick endurance: These bad boys can fly long and far. Think cross-state deliveries, not backyard selfies.
- Heavy lifters: We’re talking serious payloads. These things could probably bench press your Amazon Prime order.
- Custom vibes only: Whether it’s for disaster relief, military recon, or dropping medicines in remote hills, they tailor everything to the job.
- Hybrid wizardry: Their UAVs fuse the benefits of rotary and fixed-wing drones for extra efficiency. It’s like if a helicopter and a fighter jet had a genius baby.ndia
In short: they don’t just fly, they flex.
Meet the Big Brains Behind It All
Every startup has its founding Avengers squad. Here’s who’s behind EndureAir’s flight to success:
Dr. Abhishek: The Professor Who Moonlights as a Drone Guru: Director & Co-founder.
With more than 15 years of experience in UAVs, Dr. Abhishek isn’t just a founder; he’s a walking encyclopedia of aeromechanics. He’s a Professor at IIT Kanpur by day, a startup boss by night, and somewhere in between, he finds time to click stunning photos and cook up delicious meals. (No, you can’t marry him. We checked.)
He studied at IIT Kharagpur and the University of Maryland, and rumor has it his brain runs on algorithms and caffeine.
Rama Krishna: The CEO Who Does Everything, Except Sleep
Rama’s the glue that keeps the EndureAir machine running. Trained in aerospace at IIT Kanpur, he now dabbles in ops, legal, finance, you name it. He’s been part of every key product development and business deal, all while keeping morale high with top-tier banter in the office.
He reads like he breathes and may or may not be secretly superhuman.
Chirag Jain: The CTO a.k.a. “The Brain”
EndureAir’s tech magic flows from the mind of Chirag Jain, who blends deep expertise in mechanical engineering and flight dynamics. If your drone has flawless stabilization mid-hurricane, it’s probably his code at work.
A master of both algorithms and hardware hacks, he makes the phrase “tech wizard” look underwhelming.
Funding, Failures, and Finally, Lift-Off
No big journey is complete without a few bumps, and EndureAir’s was no exception. It raised a whopping ₹33 crore from investors, including the legendary Dani family (of Asian Paints fame) and Addverb’s co-founders. They used this to scale operations, build better tech, and open new markets in Europe, the Middle East, and North America.
Despite a loss of ₹3.07 crore in FY23, the company’s revenue jumped from ₹32 lakh in FY21 to ₹2.26 crore in FY23. (That’s a 750%+ jump, for those of you doing math at home.)
Right now, 75% of their orders come from the Indian Army, because if the military trusts your tech, you’re doing something right. They’re also aiming to bump their ₹20 crore order book up to ₹50 crore. In six months.
Real World Hero Moves
These drones aren’t just cool, they’re lifesavers:
– “Medicine from the Sky” 🚁💊: EndureAir’s tech helped deliver medicine to rural areas where ambulances can’t go.
– Disaster Response Missions 🌪️👷♂️: Their UAVs were on-site during the Chamoli flash floods and the Uttarkashi tunnel rescue ops.
– They bring the “rescue squad in the sky” energy.
Sky’s the Limit… Literally
With eight patents under its belt and a team that’s doubled to 120 in just a year, EndureAir is flying high. And they’re just getting started. From plans to work with the Indian Air Force and Navy to global expansions, this team’s not landing anytime soon.
And let’s be honest, how many tech companies out there are making actual flying robots that save lives? Not many. Most are still figuring out how to make chatbots less annoying (uh… hi 👋).
TL;DR
If you skipped straight to the end (no judgment, we all do it 😅), here’s the tea:
– EndureAir Systems was founded in 2018 at IIT Kanpur to make next-gen drones.
– Their drones do real work: rescue ops, army missions, medicine delivery.
– Founders include an IIT prof (Dr. Abhishek), a biz mastermind (Rama Krishna), and a tech brainiac (Chirag Jain).
– They raised big bucks, built game-changing tech, and are now eyeing international skies.
In a world full of Insta influencers and crypto “visionaries,” EndureAir is proof that smart engineering, a sprinkle of madness, and genuine purpose can change the world.
So next time you look up and spot a whirring machine in the sky, remember, it might just be a flying miracle made in India.
