Top 10 Drone Delivery Startups Competing with Zipline Worldwide

In just a decade, drone delivery has gone from futuristic speculation to a real-world logistics solution. At the center of this revolution is Zipline, a pioneer known for life-saving medical deliveries across Africa and beyond. But in 2025, Zipline is no longer alone. A wave of drone delivery startups worldwide is racing to compete, innovate, and capture market share in an industry projected to exceed $30 billion by 2030.

From food deliveries in Ireland to medical supplies in Switzerland and large cargo flights in the U.S., drone technology is reshaping global logistics. In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 drone delivery startups competing with Zipline, examining their innovations, partnerships, and growth strategies.

1. Wingcopter (Germany)

Wingcopter has become one of the most influential startups in the drone logistics space. Known for its fixed-wing hybrid drones, Wingcopter specializes in both humanitarian missions and commercial logistics.

Key Highlights:

• Partnerships with UNICEF and UPS for medical deliveries in Africa.
  
• Expanded into Ghana, Malawi, and the U.S. with medical and e-commerce projects.
  
• Drone technology capable of flying up to 120 km with payloads of 6–8 kg.
  
• Focused on scalability and regulatory approvals across Europe and North America.
  

Wingcopter’s ability to cover long distances positions it as one of the strongest global rivals to Zipline.

2. Manna (Ireland)

Manna has made waves as the first large-scale food delivery drone company in Europe. By partnering with Deliveroo in Dublin (2025), Manna is bringing hot meals to customers in minutes.

Key Highlights:

• Conducted 150,000+ successful flights across Ireland.
  
• Specializes in urban deliveries of food, groceries, and pharmacy goods.
  
• Uses all-electric drones, reducing carbon emissions.
  
• Plans to expand operations into the United States and UK.
  

Manna’s focus on urban convenience makes it a unique competitor targeting a different market segment than Zipline.

3. Swoop Aero (Australia, now Kite Aero)

In April 2025, Kite Aero acquired Swoop Aero’s assets, expanding its reach into global drone logistics. Originally founded in Australia, Swoop Aero gained recognition for medical supply delivery in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific.

Key Highlights:

• Operations in Tanzania, Malawi, and Vanuatu.
  
• Integrated AI-powered logistics platforms for efficient delivery routing.
  
• Partnered with the World Health Organization (WHO) to deliver vaccines.
  
• Acquired by Kite Aero to strengthen humanitarian and commercial logistics.
  

Swoop Aero/Kite Aero is focused on scale and humanitarian impact, a direct competitor to Zipline’s core mission.

4. Flytrex (USA/Israel)

Flytrex has become the backyard delivery leader in the U.S., partnering with retailers and restaurants to deliver directly to homes.

Key Highlights:

• Operates in North Carolina, Texas, and Israel.
  
• Focused on suburban and residential last-mile deliveries.
  
• Offers food, groceries, and retail items delivered in under 5 minutes.
  
• Works with the FAA under expanded testing programs.
  

Flytrex’s emphasis on consumer convenience in suburban America sets it apart from Zipline’s medical-first model.

5. Matternet (Switzerland/USA)

Matternet is one of the earliest players in medical drone delivery, operating in Switzerland, Germany, and the U.S.

Key Highlights:

• First company authorized for SAIL III BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) flights in Europe.
  
• Partnered with UPS Flight Forward and Swiss Post.
  
• Operates hospital networks in Switzerland and Berlin.
  
• Focuses heavily on urban medical logistics.
  

Matternet’s strong foothold in Europe and hospital logistics makes it a formidable competitor to Zipline.

6. Elroy Air (USA)

Elroy Air is pioneering autonomous cargo drones for heavy payload deliveries, targeting a different niche than Zipline.

Key Highlights:

• Developed the Chaparral VTOL drone, capable of carrying 150–500 lbs.
  
• Partnered with Lockheed Martin Ventures and Kratos Defense for manufacturing.
  
• Focused on military, humanitarian aid, and regional logistics.
  
• Raises funding to expand large-scale operations across the U.S. and globally.
  

Elroy Air competes with Zipline on scale, bringing drone technology into air cargo and heavy logistics.

7. Drone Delivery Canada (DDC, Canada)

DDC is one of the most regulation-forward startups, working closely with the Canadian government to scale operations.

Key Highlights:

• Operates cargo drone hubs across Canada.
  
• Targets remote and indigenous communities with essential supply delivery.
  
• Uses its “Condor” drone, capable of carrying 180 kg.
  
• Focuses on long-range commercial delivery in rural environments.
  

By specializing in remote logistics, DDC competes with Zipline in serving hard-to-reach regions.

8. SkyDrop (New Zealand)

SkyDrop (formerly Flirtey) is a last-mile drone delivery pioneer, known for early FAA approvals in the U.S. and New Zealand.

Key Highlights:

• Focused on food and parcel deliveries in suburban areas.
  
• Received FAA approval for Type Certification in 2022.
  
• Plans to expand across New Zealand, Australia, and the U.S.
  
• Developed a drone fleet capable of urban navigation.
  

SkyDrop positions itself as a consumer convenience rival to Zipline in developed markets.

9. Dronamics (Bulgaria/UK)

Dronamics has branded itself as the “world’s first cargo drone airline.”

Key Highlights:

• Developed the Black Swan cargo drone, capable of carrying 350 kg.
  
• Received European Union operational license in 2023.
  
• Focused on middle-mile cargo deliveries between airports.
  
• Expanding operations across Europe and the Middle East.
  

Dronamics’ focus on cargo logistics at scale makes it a different type of competitor to Zipline but in the same airspace.

10. Airbus Skyways (Singapore/Europe)

Airbus is not a startup in the traditional sense but is testing Skyways, an urban drone delivery project that competes with Zipline on technology and scale.

Key Highlights:

• Operated pilot projects in Singapore, delivering to university campuses.
  
• Focused on urban parcel and medical deliveries.
  
• Strong backing from Airbus’ aerospace expertise.
  
• Potential to scale into global aviation markets.
  

While not purely a startup, Airbus’ Skyways project poses a serious challenge to Zipline’s market dominance.

Comparative Snapshot of Competitors

Startup	HQ Location	Specialty	Notable Strength
Wingcopter	Germany	Long-range, hybrid drones	Humanitarian + e-commerce
Manna	Ireland	Food delivery	Urban convenience
Swoop/Kite Aero	Australia	Medical aid	WHO-backed projects
Flytrex	USA/Israel	Backyard food/grocery	Fast suburban delivery
Matternet	Switzerland	Medical drones	Hospital logistics
Elroy Air	USA	Heavy cargo	150–500 lb payloads
DDC	Canada	Remote supply	180 kg payload
SkyDrop	New Zealand	Suburban parcels	Early FAA approval
Dronamics	Bulgaria	Cargo airline	350 kg payload
Airbus Skyways	EU/Singapore	Urban logistics	Backed by Airbus

Conclusion

The drone delivery industry in 2025 is no longer defined by one company. While Zipline remains a trailblazer, a global ecosystem of startups — from Manna’s food drones in Ireland to Elroy Air’s heavy cargo drones in the U.S. — is pushing the boundaries of what drones can deliver, how fast, and to whom.

The future of logistics will be multi-dimensional, with drones handling everything from life-saving medical supplies to grocery deliveries and even air cargo. For businesses, investors, and policymakers, the race to compete with Zipline offers a glimpse into the future of global supply chains.

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