Sridhar Vembu, the founder and CEO of SaaS giant Zoho Corporation, has announced that the company will invest in Yali Aerospace, a drone startup based in Thanjavur. Yali Aerospace, founded by husband-wife duo Dinesh Baluraj and Anugraha, has developed a cutting-edge fixed-wing drone with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities.
The drone, designed to address critical delivery challenges, boasts a range of 150 kilometers, can carry a payload of up to 7 kilograms, and reaches a maximum speed of 155 km/hr. This advanced technology is poised to transform emergency medical deliveries by efficiently transporting medicines and organs to remote hospitals, thereby bypassing the limitations of road transport.
Dinesh Baluraj, who has an Aerospace Engineering background with a master’s degree from the Technical University of Munich, and his wife Anugraha returned from the Netherlands to establish Yali Aerospace in their hometown. Their mission aligns with Vembu’s vision of promoting rural and local growth, which he has consistently advocated.
Vembu’s commitment to fostering growth in tier 2 and 3 cities is evident through Zoho’s establishment of over 25 satellite offices in these regions. Recently, Zoho opened R&D centers in Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu, and Kottarakara, Kerala, to retain local talent and encourage individuals to return to their hometowns. The 3,500 sq. ft. park in Kottarakara is expected to train over 5,000 people over the next five years.
“I have to look at how to positively create jobs, moving skills and capabilities, and ensuring that we retain our talent, because there is a lot of pressure in rural areas for talent to migrate away,” Vembu emphasized in an earlier interview.
Zoho Corporation, renowned for being the first bootstrapped company in the world to cross 100 million users, serves over 700,000 businesses across 150 countries. Vembu’s strategy of investing in local startups and infrastructure underscores his dedication to sustainable development and innovation in India’s rural sectors.
This investment in Yali Aerospace not only signifies a boost for the startup but also represents a broader initiative to drive technological advancement and economic growth in less urbanized regions. With Zoho’s support, Yali Aerospace is well-positioned to make significant strides in the drone technology sector, enhancing critical services and contributing to the local economy.
