According to Transport Topics, Zipline Inc. is in early-stage discussions to raise $1 billion in new funding, which would value the autonomous drone delivery company at approximately $20 billion.
Funding Round and Valuation Shift
The proposed $20 billion valuation represents a near-tripling of Zipline’s previous valuation of $7.6 billion, established earlier in 2024. Venture capital firm Paradigm is in discussions to lead the round, while Tiger Global Management — a prior investor — is considering participation, according to people familiar with the matter who requested anonymity due to the non-public nature of the talks. The source states that terms remain fluid and subject to change.
Zipline and Paradigm declined to comment on the fundraising discussions; Tiger Global Management did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Founded in 2014, Zipline has used prior capital to expand its commercial deployment across diverse geographies and use cases.
The company’s operational claims include delivering food orders to consumers’ homes in 30 minutes or less, preserving freshness through integrated fulfillment software, inventory management systems, and airspace coordination tools. Its services are designed to function in both rural and urban environments.
Partnerships and Scale Metrics
In August, Zipline announced a partnership and investment from Uber Technologies aimed at scaling Uber’s food delivery infrastructure. That funding occurred at an undisclosed valuation. Separately, Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick recently launched Atoms — a robotics venture focused on food, mining, and transportation — though this initiative is independent of Zipline.
Zipline’s top investors include Valor Equity Partners and Sequoia Capital. According to its official website, the company has completed nearly 3 million deliveries across more than 140 million miles. Its customer roster includes Chipotle Mexican Grill, Jimmy John’s, and Walmart Inc.
The financing effort comes as Zipline continues to scale its logistics automation platform amid growing demand for rapid, contactless delivery solutions. All discussions remain preliminary, with no formal closing date or binding commitments reported as of September 17, 2026.
Source: Transport Topics
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
