Former Indian captain MS Dhoni backed drone start-up, Garuda Aerospace has announced its strategic decision to expedite its Initial Public Offering (IPO) plans following the visionary 'Namo Drone Didi' initiative unveiled by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.  

The program allocates a sum of 1261 crores to deploy 15,000 Kisan Drones, a move set to revolutionise the agricultural landscape and empower rural communities, particularly women entrepreneurs.  

The company added in its release that at the core of the 'Namo Drone Didi' initiative lies a special emphasis on empowering 15,000 women rural entrepreneurs, a mission that seamlessly aligns with Garuda Aerospace's core values and principles. The company is deeply committed to training and equipping these entrepreneurs with Kisan Drones, with a vision to bolster Women Self-Help Groups over the next two years. This initiative represents a significant step towards enhancing economic independence and empowerment among rural women, ultimately contributing to the socioeconomic development of rural areas  

Agnishwar Jayprakash, founder and CEO of Garuda Aerospace, expressed great enthusiasm for this groundbreaking initiative, stating, "Prime Minister Modi Ji's 'Namo Drone Didi' initiative is a watershed moment for the agriculture sector and a testament to his unwavering commitment to empowering rural women entrepreneurs. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for the allocation of 1261 crores, which will undoubtedly revolutionise farming practices and enhance agricultural productivity. In response to this transformative opportunity, we are accelerating our IPO plans to expand our operations, intensify our research and development efforts, and better serve the agricultural community. We firmly believe that 'Namo Drone Didi' has the potential to have a profound and lasting societal impact, and we are excited to be an integral part of this groundbreaking initiative." 

Established in 2015, this start-up has captured approximately 55 per cent of the billion-dollar Precision Agri-drone market. Additionally, the company recently raised Rs 25 crores in a new bridge funding round, with Venture Catalysts leading the investment. Venture Catalysts is India's first integrated incubator and a prominent early-stage investor, along with WeFounderCircle.