Irish autonomous‑drone pioneer Manna Aero is accelerating its U.S. footprint after raising $50 million in April. Founder‑CEO Bobby Healy told TechCrunch that the capital will fund a new operations and manufacturing centre in Tulsa, Oklahoma, slated to employ roughly 1,000 people over the next few years. Construction is already under way, with production expected to commence within a year.

Hiring Roadmap and Site Roll‑out

Healy said the company will initially scale its operations team to 200‑300 staff in the next 12 months while the factory is built. Hiring at the plant will be paced according to growth outside Tulsa, as Manna evaluates six additional U.S. cities for future expansion. If timelines hold, the firm hopes to launch services in those markets by the end of 2027.

Competing in the American Market

The United States, Healy explained, offers a uniquely large consumer base and a market that has been consolidated by aggregators such as DoorDash and Uber Eats. “The United States has the market that everybody wants,” he said, underscoring the strategic importance of the move. Manna’s ultimate ambition is to become a leading drone‑delivery operator that can rival Zipline, Amazon and Google’s Wing.

Business Model and Technology

Manna’s drones never land; they lower parcels on a tether, a technique also used by Wing and Zipline. The company operates a hybrid delivery‑as‑a‑service model, charging per flight while leveraging partnerships with DoorDash, Deliveroo and Uber Eats in Europe, as well as direct contracts with businesses and a consumer‑facing app.

Regulatory Landscape and Leadership

After pulling back its Irish operations due to restrictive planning rules, Manna is redirecting its capital to the United States, citing a “turbo boost” from the Trump administration’s and FAA’s policies. The startup has also hired former Ryanair CMO Kenny Jacobs as executive chair and president to shepherd the expansion.

Healy pointed to the rapid growth of Amazon, Wing and Zipline over the past year as evidence that the regulatory climate is finally conducive to large‑scale drone logistics. Although he admits Manna is slightly behind the curve, he is confident the company will catch up quickly.

Manna first entered the U.S. market in 2023 through the AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone near Dallas, a development led by Hillwood. The firm has since broadened its presence in the Dallas‑Fort Worth region and plans to continue scaling there while the Tulsa hub takes shape.

In sum, Manna’s ambitious Tulsa investment could reshape the American drone‑delivery sector, creating jobs, spurring local supply‑chain activity, and testing new regulatory frameworks that may become the blueprint for future unmanned logistics.