What Speedbird Aero does

Speedbird Aero is a Brazilian drone logistics OEM and operator that designs, certifies, and flies autonomous Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) aircraft for enterprise customers. Founded in 2015 in Arizona and relocated to Brazil in 2018, the company is headquartered in Jacareí (São Paulo state) with a European base in Porto, Portugal, and reports operational missions across 14 countries on four continents. Its certified fleet spans the BIRD-S (last-mile, 5–10 kg payload, 20–30 km range), BIRD-M (mid-range, 20 kg, 40 km), BIRD-X (long-range, 80 kg, 70 km), and the DLV-1 and DLV-2 platforms that hold ANAC BVLOS airworthiness certifications, including a March 2026 authorization for daily operations over populated areas up to 5,000 people per km² under Brazil's national BVLOS framework. The software layer consists of the Cloud Control Station (CCS) for flight planning, dispatching, and monitoring, and a UTM system for airspace management.

The company sells Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) — an integrated B2B offering combining hardware, software, flight operations, maintenance, training, and ground integration (droneports and smart lockers) — which lets customers access aerial logistics without upfront hardware investment. Revenue also derives from hardware sales of proprietary aircraft and recurring software subscriptions. Named enterprise customers span consumer delivery (iFood, BR/BRF), mining (Vale, with a pioneering 42 km / 45-minute mineral-sample operation at Carajás), healthcare (Grupo Fleury for inter-hospital, organ, and emergency logistics), and postal (Royal Mail, the first UK drone delivery service with the postal operator). Investors include Embraer (Series A lead, 2023), Lince Capital (lead in 2025–2026 rounds), and iFood (US$5.8M strategic investment in 2026); Andre Stein (ex-Embraer, EVE, Eviation) leads Americas operations and a 2026 US redomiciliation is planned.

Name

Speedbird Aero

Legal name

Speedbird Aero

Website

https://speedbird.aero

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Speedbird Aero is a Brazil-based drone OEM and operator that designs, certifies, and flies autonomous BVLOS aircraft, delivering a Drone-as-a-Service platform for enterprise customers across food delivery, mining, healthcare, and postal logistics in 14 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Drone Logistics Services

NAICS

Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Air Courier Services (4513), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

UAS Ground Control Stations (GCS) & Remote Operations Infrastructure (IMABAIAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

UAS Integration, Certification & Compliance Systems (Remote ID, Detect-and-Avoid) (IMABAIAO)

Keywords

• Drone delivery services
• Autonomous aerial logistics
• Drone-as-a-service
• BVLOS operations
• Unmanned aerial systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Franca

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS): The company offers comprehensive drone logistics solutions combining hardware, software, services, and flight operations as an integrated service model. Customers access drone delivery capabilities without requiring upfront hardware investment.
2. Hardware Sales: Sale of proprietary drone platforms including BIRD-S, BIRD-M, and BIRD-X aircraft, as well as DLV series drones.
3. Software Platform: Cloud Control Station (CCS) and UTM software for planning, dispatching, monitoring drone operations, and managing airspace.
4. Professional Services: Maintenance, training, authorization services, and cloud-based control and monitoring services.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Speedbird Aero designs, certifies, and operates autonomous unmanned aerial systems (BVLOS drones) for last-mile, mid-range, and long-range cargo delivery. It sells and operates proprietary drone platforms (BIRD-S, BIRD-M, BIRD-X, DLV-1, DLV-2) supported by a Cloud Control Station (CCS) and UTM software, and delivers the full stack as a Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) to enterprise customers in food delivery, healthcare, mining, postal, and industrial logistics. Customers receive an end-to-end logistics solution including hardware, software, regulatory authorization, training, maintenance, and flight operations, eliminating the need for upfront drone investment.

Product overview

Speedbird Aero operates a unified Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) platform combining proprietary drone hardware (BIRD-S, BIRD-M, BIRD-X, DLV-1, DLV-2), cloud-based flight management software (CCS), and operational services into an integrated B2B logistics solution. The drone fleet spans three models optimized for different mission profiles: BIRD-S for last-mile delivery (5-10 kg payload, 20-30 km range), BIRD-M for mid-range operations (20 kg payload, 40 km range), and BIRD-X for long-range heavy cargo (80 kg payload, 70 km range). The CCS software platform provides unified flight planning, dispatch, monitoring, and UTM capabilities for BVLOS operations. Future infrastructure includes droneports and smart lockers for automated ground integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BIRD-S (Last-mile drone) Last-mile logistics drone with automatic or winch release delivery mechanism; payload 5-10 kg, range 20-30 km, MTOW 25-35 kg. Designed for enterprise last-mile delivery operators and platform partners.
• BIRD-M (Mid-range drone) Mid-range logistics drone with automatic or winch release; payload 20 kg, range 40 km, MTOW 50 kg. Built for mid-range enterprise delivery and industrial logistics missions.
• BIRD-X (Long-range drone) Long-range logistics drone with automatic or winch release; payload 80 kg, range 70 km, MTOW 180 kg. Targeted at heavy cargo and long-distance enterprise and industrial logistics missions.
• Cloud Control Station (CCS) Cloud-based software platform that includes a Flight Management System and UTM to plan, dispatch, and monitor all drone operations, including BVLOS missions. Sold to enterprise customers operating or integrating with Speedbird drone fleets.
• DLV-1 Delivery Drone First-generation certified delivery drone platform that received ANAC BVLOS airworthiness certification in 2022; part of Speedbird's certified BVLOS operations stack.
• DLV-2 Delivery Drone Second-generation certified delivery drone platform; DLV-2 A25 variant approved for populated areas up to 5,000 people/km² and DLV-2 E35 variant used for industrial missions such as Vale's Carajás Mine.
• Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) Integrated B2B service that combines hardware, software, maintenance, training, authorization, cloud control, droneports, smart lockers, and flight operations into a managed drone logistics offering. Lets enterprise customers access drone delivery without upfront hardware investment.
• Droneports and Smart Lockers Ground infrastructure for automated last-mile delivery, including drone landing stations and smart lockers for secure package handoff, designed to integrate with the BIRD and DLV drone fleet.

Quantifiable outcome

• 42 km mineral sample transport completed in 45 minutes vs. 4 hours by traditional road transport at Vale Carajás Mine
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, major, flagship and core.

• Moya AerostrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 April 2026Speedbird Aero and Moya Aero signed a nonbinding MoU to explore collaboration in drone logistics and aerial mobility solutions. The partnership focuses on operational synergies, technology integration, and potential long-term partnership models, with initial efforts in the Americas and potential expansion to Europe and Asia.
• ValemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 December 2024Speedbird Aero and Vale completed the first-ever drone logistics operation at Carajás Mine in Pará, Brazil, transporting mineral samples over 42 km in 45 minutes using the DLV-2 E35 aircraft. This pioneering operation required coordination with ANAC and DECEA regulatory bodies and indicates potential for expanded collaboration.
• Royal MailflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst drone delivery service with Royal Mail in the UK - a Drone-as-a-Service partnership marking the first drone delivery service with Royal Mail, representing a flagship international reference customer.
• SkyportscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Skyports for drone delivery operations. In April 2026, Speedbird Aero, Skyports, and the Port Authority launched drone testing in New York, with delivery flights over the Brooklyn Bridge between Manhattan and Brooklyn.
• UrbanVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the urban air mobility ecosystem, working with Speedbird on advanced air mobility solutions.
• Grupo FleurycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner for medical logistics including inter-hospital supply, organ and tissue transport, emergency equipment delivery, and humanitarian aid applications.
• BR (BRF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrazilian food company partner for food delivery and logistics applications using drone technology.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Zipline: The leading global autonomous drone-delivery operator, serving healthcare, food, and e-commerce customers across Africa and the Americas. Directly comparable to Speedbird's BVLOS delivery-as-a-service model and enterprise customer profile.
• Wing (Alphabet): Alphabet-owned drone delivery service operating in the US, Australia, and Finland with BVLOS approvals. Direct competitor in consumer goods and food delivery using autonomous fixed-wing and multirotor drones.
• Matternet: US/Swiss drone logistics company focused on medical and intra-hospital deliveries with FAA and Swiss certifications. Closely comparable in healthcare logistics, B2B DaaS model, and regulatory-driven moat.
• Manna Aero: Irish drone delivery startup operating last-mile food and consumer goods deliveries in Europe. Directly comparable in urban BVLOS food delivery use case and Drone-as-a-Service positioning; already partnered via MoU with Speedbird.
• Skyports: UK-based drone services and vertiport infrastructure operator with active partnerships (Royal Mail, hospitals) and BVLOS flight experience. Overlaps with Speedbird in service operations, infrastructure (droneports), and customer base.

Emerging players

• Moya Aero: Brazilian heavy-cargo eVTOL/autonomous cargo aircraft developer; recently signed an MoU with Speedbird for collaboration on industrial logistics. Comparable in cargo-focused UAS innovation with overlap in Latin American industrial use cases.
• Flirtey (now under MatrixSpace): US drone delivery pioneer historically focused on last-mile delivery (Domino's, 7-Eleven, medical deliveries). Closely comparable DaaS-style BVLOS delivery offerings, though currently smaller scale than Speedbird.
• Swoop Aero: Australian drone logistics company operating medical and essential supplies deliveries across multiple continents. Comparable BVLOS healthcare/logistics focus and emerging-market footprint.

Broad incumbents

• UrbanV: Urban air mobility infrastructure operator (a spinoff from Aeroporti di Roma) building vertiport networks for advanced air mobility. Existing Speedbird partner and overlapping focus on enabling autonomous aerial operations.
• EHang: Chinese autonomous aerial vehicle company listed on Nasdaq; develops passenger and cargo eVTOL/AAV aircraft. Broader incumbent in autonomous aerial systems with overlapping regulatory-driven certification and urban operation goals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors15 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Speedbird Aero