Key facts
- Irish drone delivery startup Manna has launched its first full-scale U.S. operation in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- Deliveries from partners like DoorDash and McDonald's are expected to begin within two months.
- Manna plans to establish 40 operational bases in Tulsa by mid-2027.
- The company views the U.S. Southwest as a critical region for scaling drone delivery services globally.
- Manna has previously completed over 300,000 deliveries, mainly in Ireland.
Irish drone delivery startup Manna has launched its first full-scale U.S. operation in Tulsa, Oklahoma, aiming to make deliveries accessible to 90% of the city's residents within a year. The company plans to begin flying orders from partners such as DoorDash, McDonald's, and Uber Eats within the next two months and operate from 40 bases across Tulsa by mid-2027.
Executive chairman Kenny Jacobs told Reuters that the U.S. Southwest, including Oklahoma and Texas, will serve as the "battleground" for scaling up and proving drone delivery services globally. Jacobs, who recently joined Manna, emphasized that the technology is proven and the focus is now on commercial scalability and rapid base deployment.
Manna has completed over 300,000 deliveries, primarily in Ireland, where it recently paused services due to a lack of clear national planning regulations. Jacobs anticipates no similar regulatory hurdles in the U.S. and expressed optimism about expanding into another U.S. city this year, with Texas and Arizona being attractive options.
The company's ability to scale quickly at a low capital expenditure cost is attributed to its compact launch sites, each no larger than four parking spaces. Manna, which secured $50 million in Series B funding earlier this year, also has plans to expand into Britain by early 2028 and potentially the Middle East before then.