Zipline has announced a US$1.5 billion funding round at a US$21.5 billion post-money valuation. The investment was led by Paradigm, WCM Investment Management and Layer Global, with participation from Valor Equity Partners, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Uber, Tiger Global, J.P. Morgan, ARK Invest and Salesforce Ventures.
The company intends to use the funding to expand its manufacturing facilities in the United States, increase recruitment and develop a nationwide autonomous drone delivery network.
Walmart and Zipline are working together to establish 300 additional delivery sites under a new multi-year agreement, with the possibility of further expansion. Uber is targeting one million deliveries per day through Zipline by 2029.
Zipline reports that its network continues to attract new commercial partners. Among a group of established restaurant partners, Zipline's contribution to delivery revenue increased from 10.8% in March to 34.9% in October. These restaurants recorded a 26% increase in delivery gross merchandise value, with Zipline accounting for 80% of that growth.
The company reports completing more than one million deliveries in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area during 2026. In October, its median delivery time was 19 minutes after checkout, compared with more than 30 minutes for conventional delivery services.
Anton Levy, Founder and Managing Partner of Layer Global, said, “Zipline has already brought the future of delivery to the communities it serves. Now, the opportunity is to reach millions more.” He added, “With partners like Uber and Walmart and a repeatable model for entering new markets, Zipline is well positioned to make drone delivery a mainstream part of everyday life.”
As Zipline scales, it continues developing its aircraft and delivery systems. The company recently introduced sound-optimised dynamic flying, an acoustics upgrade intended to make flights quieter, faster and more energy efficient. It also introduced its next-generation aircraft, designed to operate at higher altitudes, carry heavier orders over longer distances and reduce noise.
Ten years after its first flights, Zipline reports having flown 150 million commercial autonomous miles without a safety incident. The company estimates that its long-range medical deliveries help save more than 14,000 lives annually across multiple continents.
In Côte d’Ivoire, Zipline is developing a nationwide medical drone delivery network expected to serve more than 2,200 healthcare facilities and 12 million people.
