Sarla raises $10 million in Series A1 led by Accel, Nikhil Kamath

Sarla Aviation, has raised $10 million in Series A1 funding led by Accel and Nikhil Kamath, with participation from angel investors including Binny Bansal, Sriharsha Majety, and more pioneer founders of India.

This funding enables Sarla Aviation to accelerate its mission of transforming transportation in India by offering affordable, efficient, and sustainable air mobility solutions.

Sarla is set to unveil its first flying taxi prototype on January 17, 2025, at Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, in New Delhi. The company will also initiate test flight campaigns and accelerate the creation of additional prototypes, aiming for market launch by 2028.

As urbanisation accelerates and traffic congestion worsens in Indian cities, Sarla provides instant mobility solutions that bypass road-bound infrastructure, envisioning a future where Indians can seamlessly live, work, and thrive without the limitations of ground transportation.

Founded in 2024 by Adrian Schmidt, Rakesh Gaonkar, and Shivam Chauhan, the team bring years of experience from leading global eVTOL players and are building a world-class team, combining global expertise with local insights to set new benchmarks in urban mobility.

Sarla’s hybrid-lift-and-cruise eVTOL offers the highest payload in the market, capable of carrying up to 680 kg—allowing 35 percent more passengers per flight at 4X lower ticket prices compared to western competitors. This innovation positions Sarla Aviation’s flying taxis as a practical, affordable, and efficient solution for mass mobility.

Sarla Aviation's eVTOL aircraft, Shunya, also offers a cargo configuration designed to meet diverse logistical needs. “With a 680 kg payload capacity and a spacious loading area accessible from both sides, this configuration sets a new benchmark for cargo applications. Its standardized loading platform ensures seamless and efficient operations,” the website reads.

"This funding is a significant milestone for Sarla Aviation as we advance our mission to revolutionize transportation in India,” said Adrian Schmidt, Co-Founder and CEO of Sarla Aviation. “Our flying taxis are not just about enabling instant and affordable air mobility—they represent a bold step toward unlocking India’s true economic potential and solving for critical bottlenecks to our productivity like traffic congestion and pollution. With the support of our investors, we are accelerating the development of our technology, expanding our team and establishing a state-of-the-art R&D center. Our first priority is to build a mass mobility system that serves and enables India like cars once transformed and enabled the United States.”

He further adds, “We also plan to launch a free-of-cost air ambulance service, addressing the urgent need for rapid medical response and saving countless lives by eliminating traffic-related delays. By prioritizing simplicity and affordability, we aim to create a scalable solution that meets the needs of tomorrow’s Viksit Bharat and fuels the country’s ambition to become a global superpower.”

"Sarla Aviation’s vision of affordable flying taxis addresses critical urban challenges such as traffic congestion, pollution, and the need for rapid medical response. Adrian, Rakesh, and Shivam are exactly the type of founders who can bring this vision to life; backed by experience from leading global eVTOL companies and a world-class team that can set new standards in engineering and innovation, they have the right mix of bold vision and ability to execute that will help this idea ‘take-off’ practically. Their emphasis on cost economics and reliability could make them a blueprint for other rapidly urbanizing regions worldwide," said Pratik Agarwal, Principal at Accel.

Other angel investors participating in the round include Abhiraj Singh Bhal (Urban Company), Abhishek Goyal (Tracxn), Ramakant Sharma (LivSpace), Sujeet Kumar (Udaan), Manish Agarwal (Kratos) and Sandeep Nailwal (Polygon).