After US restrictions pushed it to launch in Rwanda, Zipline raises $1.5 billion at a $21.5 billion valuation as Uber and Walmart take its Africa-tested drones nationwide

Uber, JPMorgan, Fidelity Management & Research, Tiger Global, ARK Invest and Salesforce Ventures participated in the latest round, which was led by Paradigm, WCM Investment Management and Layer Global.

Zipline intends to use the money to expand its American manufacturing capacity, recruit more workers and develop a nationwide drone-delivery network across the United States.

Reuters reported that regulatory restrictions initially prevented Zipline from launching commercially in its home market, prompting the California-based company to begin operations overseas.

Chief executive Keller Cliffton said restrictions on flying beyond an operator’s visual range kept the business outside the US during its first eight years of commercial operations.

Zipline made its first commercial delivery in Rwanda in October 2016, transporting blood and other essential medical products to hospitals that could be difficult to reach quickly by road.

The partnership made Rwanda the first country to operate Zipline’s national autonomous delivery service.

While Zipline designed and manufactured its drones in the United States, Rwanda provided the regulatory environment and national health network through which the company could test its commercial model at scale.

The company later expanded into Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire, delivering blood, vaccines, medicines and other health products to hospitals and clinics.

In February 2026, Rwanda expanded the partnership, aiming to become the first country with nationwide autonomous logistics coverage and Africa’s first urban drone-delivery network.

The expansion is supported by a $150 million US government pay-for-performance programme designed to extend Zipline’s African operations. The $150 million is a separate funding programme and is not part of the company’s latest $1.5 billion investment round.

Zipline’s African operation is not simply historical context to an American technology story. The company’s first flight, earliest commercial deployment and initial national-scale delivery infrastructure were all established in Rwanda before it could offer comparable services at home.

The latest funding comes as Zipline moves from primarily delivering medical products to transporting food, retail goods and other consumer purchases.

Walmart and Zipline have agreed to add 300 drone-delivery sites across the United States under an expanded multiyear partnership. The two companies currently operate from a much smaller number of locations, making the expansion a significant commercial commitment.

Uber also invested in the funding round after agreeing to introduce Zipline’s autonomous delivery service to Uber Eats customers.

The ride-hailing company is targeting one million Zipline-supported deliveries daily by 2029, according to Zipline.

The partnerships place Zipline in competition with Amazon and Alphabet’s Wing, which are also developing commercial drone-delivery networks.

Zipline says it has flown 150 million autonomous commercial miles without a safety incident. It also says its long-distance medical deliveries help save more than 14,000 lives annually across several continents.

Zipline’s move into the American consumer market does not mean it is leaving its African healthcare operations behind.

Côte d’Ivoire approved an eight-year public-private partnership in September to expand Zipline’s network from one distribution centre to 10.

The expanded system is expected to serve more than 2,200 health facilities and approximately 12 million people.

The company said the Ivorian network had already delivered about two million vaccine doses and 20,500 units of blood products. The US government is providing initial infrastructure support, while Côte d’Ivoire will pay for continuing operations.

Zipline also maintains operations in Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya. These African networks continue to provide evidence that autonomous delivery can operate beyond short pilots and become part of a country’s health-supply system.

Zipline’s $21.5 billion valuation ultimately reflects growing investor expectations for its American commercial business. However, the technology, operating record and national-delivery model attracting Uber and Walmart were tested first across Africa.