Zomato Founder Deepinder Goyal Moves Into Drones With Aerospace Startup Kalam Labs

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Zomato co-founder Deepinder Goyal is in advanced discussions to invest around $1 million (₹9 crore) in drone and space-technology startup Kalam Labs, as part of a larger funding round expected to raise $5–7 million, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The proposed investment highlights a growing convergence between India’s startup ecosystem and deep-tech sectors such as aerospace, drones, and advanced engineering. For Goyal, whose entrepreneurial track record has largely been tied to consumer internet through Zomato, the move signals a widening focus toward frontier technologies with long-term strategic potential.

Kalam Labs focuses on developing drone and aerospace technologies aimed at enabling next-generation engineering solutions. If completed, Goyal’s investment would join other expected backers in the round, including technology investors such as Globaz Technologies.

The timing is significant. India’s drone industry has expanded rapidly following policy reforms such as the Drone Rules 2021 and the government’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for drones, which together aim to build a domestic manufacturing ecosystem. According to a NITI Aayog report, India’s drone market could reach $50 billion by 2030, creating opportunities across logistics, defence, agriculture and infrastructure monitoring.

Industry analysts say interest from high-profile founders can accelerate capital flows and credibility for deep-tech startups. As venture capital in India increasingly moves beyond consumer apps into sectors like space tech, semiconductors and robotics, strategic investors are playing a larger role in early-stage funding.

The investment also aligns with Goyal’s broader interest in aerospace innovation. In 2025, he backed LAT Aerospace, a startup working on hybrid-electric aircraft designed for short regional routes in India. 

“India’s drone ecosystem is at an inflection point,” said Smit Shah, president of the Drone Federation of India, noting that supportive policy and private capital are accelerating innovation and manufacturing in the sector.

If finalized, Goyal’s investment in Kalam Labs would add momentum to India’s fast-growing drone startup ecosystem while signalling that prominent tech founders are increasingly betting on deep-tech ventures that could shape the next decade of Indian innovation.