Irish aviation tech company Manna to scale operations in Ireland and the US – raising its global headcount to more than 570 people.
Bobby Healy’s drone logistics business Manna Air Delivery is planning 400 new jobs across Ireland and the US after closing a $50m Series B funding round.
This latest investment brings total investment in the Irish drone business to $110m.
“Ireland is the foundation of everything we do. We design and build our drones here, develop our software here, and have spent seven years refining our operations in communities across the country”
Manna said that the roles will be created across a number of functions, specifically focusing on robotics, software engineering, mechanical engineering, aviation operations, ground operations and regulatory functions, with a strong focus on STEM disciplines.
The positions will be based across Manna’s Irish operational hubs and its expanding US operations, and would bring the company’s total global headcount from 170 to over 570.
Investors in the round include ARK Invest, known for backing companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Tesla and SpaceX, as well as the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and Schooner Capital, alongside existing investors Coca-Cola HBC, Molten Ventures and Enterprise Ireland.
Manna from the heavens
Bobby Healy, founder and CEO, Manna Air Delivery
Manna designs, builds and operates its drones and software in Ireland, making it one of the country’s most significant homegrown aviation and autonomous technology companies. The company holds a Gold Standard Light UAS Operator Certificate (LUC) under the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) framework and has completed more than 250,000 regulated drone flights.
“Ireland is the foundation of everything we do. We design and build our drones here, develop our software here, and have spent seven years refining our operations in communities across the country,” CEO and Founder Bobby Healy said.
“These 400 new roles are high-quality STEM positions and we’re competing with some of the largest companies in the world and winning. This investment allows us to scale, in Ireland and across the United States where we already fly in Texas. A number of American cities and states there have been very enthusiastic about the potential of aerial delivery for logistics and communities.”
Manna is one of Ireland’s most advanced aviation and autonomous technology companies. The company’s drones and proprietary software are designed and built in Dublin by a team of engineers spanning software, robotics, mechanical engineering and aviation operations.
Made in Ireland, flown globally
Manna’s end-to-end Irish-built technology stack, from airframe design and manufacturing through to flight orchestration software, positions Ireland as a global centre of excellence in autonomous aerial logistics.
Welcoming the announcement, Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, TD, said: “This announcement by Manna Air Delivery represents a powerful endorsement of Ireland’s standing as a global centre for innovation and advanced manufacturing. The creation of so many highly-skilled positions across robotics, software engineering, aviation and regulatory disciplines underscores the depth and quality of Ireland’s STEM talent base and the ability of indigenous Irish firms to compete on the global stage in pioneering sectors such as autonomous aviation.”
Over the past seven years, Manna has operated across Ireland in Blanchardstown (Dublin West), Balbriggan, Moneygall, Oranmore and Cork, as well as internationally in Texas and Finland.
The company has completed over 250,000 deliveries, including 60,000 in Blanchardstown over two years, delivering books, medical supplies such as antigen tests, food and clothing. Manna is used by young families, elderly residents, people working from home and those who are housebound to receive everyday items as part of the company’s mission to make communities more accessible and last-mile delivery greener and safer.
“ISIF is committed to supporting Manna as part of our mandate to invest commercially in ways that deliver long-term economic impact for Ireland and align with our focus on scaling indigenous businesses,” said Rebekah Brady, Interim Director at the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund.
“Manna’s continued expansion demonstrates the global potential of innovative Irish-founded companies operating at the forefront of autonomous aviation, while creating high-quality STEM employment in Ireland and scaling internationally.”
Kevin Sherry, Executive Director at Enterprise Ireland, added: “Manna is a highly dynamic and ambitious company, led by serial entrepreneurs building a world class delivery platform from Ireland which is focused on deployment across global markets. Enterprise Ireland’s continued investment reflects its focus on supporting bold founders with ambition to scale internationally from an Irish base.
“Manna is a standout example of an Irish company with clear global growth opportunities driven from an Irish headquarters. We are excited to continue partnering with the company as it accelerates its international expansion, substantially increasing its employment in Ireland.”
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