Speedbird Aero

About Speedbird Aero

Speedbird Aero operates as a comprehensive drone logistics solutions provider, focusing on the design, manufacture, and operation of unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The company was founded in Brazil in 2018 by Manoel Coelho and Samuel Salomão. The founders' journey began in the U.S. where they worked together at a telemedicine company, experiencing firsthand the challenges of delivering medical supplies to remote areas. This inspired Salomão's idea to use drones for logistics, leading them to relocate to Brazil to launch the startup after failing to secure U.S. funding.

The company's business model is primarily B2B, offering a "Drone as a Service" (DaaS) solution to clients across various sectors. This model provides flexible and scalable access to drone technology without requiring clients to invest in their own infrastructure or fleets. Revenue is generated by providing these logistics services to major companies, with clients including iFood, Natura, Claro, Grupo Fleury (formerly Grupo Pardini), and Vale. The firm has established operations in Brazil, Portugal, the U.S., Israel, and the U.K., with plans for global reach by 2030. Its financial backing comes from private funding, angel investors, and venture capital rounds, including investments from MSW Capital, Lince Capital, and Embraer.

Speedbird Aero has developed a proprietary fleet of drones to cater to different logistical needs. The DLV-1 is designed for urban deliveries of small packages up to 2.5 kg within a 3 km radius. The DLV-2 handles heavier payloads up to 6 kg for ranges up to 16 km, and the DLV-4 is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft for long-range missions up to 100 km with a 5 kg payload. A key differentiator is the company's in-house development of both hardware and the software used for routing, safety, and automated flight operations. These systems operate beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) and are equipped with safety features like redundant systems and emergency parachutes.

Significant milestones for Speedbird Aero include becoming the first company in Latin America to receive certification from Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) for commercial drone delivery and to transport dangerous goods, specifically UN 3373 Category B biological substances. This has enabled critical logistics operations, such as transporting medical samples for Grupo Fleury over a 30 km BVLOS corridor in Salvador and mineral samples for the mining giant Vale, drastically reducing transport times. The company has also engaged in international partnerships, such as working with Skyports Drone Services for Royal Mail deliveries in Scotland and collaborating on urban air mobility initiatives.