"Drones need the right apps to take off”

A company committed to manufacturing locally, Mydhili Aerospace is a good example of innovation brewing strongly in the young minds in India. While the company specialises in manufacturing drones for agricultural and delivery purposes, it aims to get a step ahead and also produce all components that go into the making of a drone locally, without relying on imported raw materials or parts.

- Pratima Harigunani

The company's Founder and CEO Yerramreddy Nivesh Reddy, in an interaction with Pratima Harigunani, shared how Mydhili came into existence, the distance it has covered and where it heading. He also talked about what spurs and what stops this segment's trajectory. Excerpts from the interaction:

What triggered the idea behind Mydhili Aerospace? How difficult or easy was it to get where you are today?

My journey into this business began in my 11th class when I developed a keen interest in entrepreneurship. Initially, I envisioned selling agricultural drones, but extensive research led me to pivot towards manufacturing drone frames. This shift was driven by the high demand and a desire to reduce India's dependence on Chinese drone components. The path was challenging, particularly due to limited capital from bootstrapping and difficulties in prototyping, especially with 3D printing. As pioneers in India's drone frame manufacturing, we lacked high-end equipment initially. Looking ahead, our focus is on growth and innovation in the drone frame industry.

What progress areas are you most excited about?

One of our achievements includes the successful delivery of a drone with a payload capacity of 15 kg. While we encountered challenges during our initial order, we used these experiences to gain insights and effectively overcome obstacles. Our first drone model, named BARISH AD-01, has been completed, and we are currently developing the second drone frame, BARISH AD-02, which boasts enhanced specifications surpassing those currently available in the market.