Imagine craving a cup of coffee in one of Dublin’s bustling suburbs. Instead of a delivery truck or a traditional courier, a drone delivers your hot cup of joe directly to your door in under three minutes. This is the reality for many Dublin residents, thanks to Manna, an innovative Irish startup that’s revolutionizing the concept of delivery.
Specializing in autonomous drone deliveries, Manna’s vision is to make the entire process quicker, cheaper, and more sustainable. As drones buzz above the Dublin suburbs, the company is setting ambitious goals, aiming for 1.5 million deliveries this year, all while operating at a fraction of the cost of larger competitors.
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The Manna Model: Cost-Efficient and Scalable Delivery
Manna’s primary item? Coffee. According to the company, caffeine deliveries are the highest volume item in its system, thanks to the time-sensitive demand during morning and afternoon hours. The secret behind Manna’s success lies in its well-engineered drones and lean operational model. Unlike other industry giants like Amazon, Alphabet, and Zipline, who have invested hundreds of millions into drone delivery systems, Manna’s approach is focused on building cost-effective, reliable drones that require minimal staff to operate.
Bobby Healy, Manna’s founder, boldly claims that his company is the only one in the drone delivery space turning a profit per delivery. While other companies may be sinking vast amounts of money into infrastructure and development, Manna’s focus is on efficient operations and creating a system that can scale without the need for significant capital investment.
“It’s not a massive investment required. It’s a massive amount of time and confidence building that’s needed,” Healy told Forbes, emphasizing that success in the drone delivery business isn’t just about funding—it’s about perfecting the aircraft and operational systems.
Impressive Growth and Future Prospects
Since its inception in 2020, Manna has made significant strides, completing 200,000 deliveries. This is still far fewer than the 1.4 million deliveries made by Zipline or 450,000 by Wing, but Healy is optimistic about the company’s future. Manna has already raised $60 million in funding, including a $30 million round announced in May 2025. This brings the company’s valuation to over $150 million. With a projected annual revenue of $6 million, Manna is making a steady impact in the world of drone delivery.
This year, the company is expanding its operations in Dublin, targeting an area with a population of 1.1 million people. With 42% of households in the neighborhoods it serves having used Manna’s service, the startup is poised for rapid growth. Healy anticipates that expanding the company’s drone bases from three to 11 will help Manna ramp up deliveries to over 1.5 million annually—something no other drone delivery company has yet achieved.
Expansion Plans: Europe and Beyond
While Manna is already gaining ground in Dublin, the company has its sights set on international expansion. Manna is currently operating in Finland, where it delivers around 100 packages per day in Espoo. The company is also eyeing growth in other parts of Europe, taking advantage of the European Union’s more streamlined regulatory framework for drone operations, which was implemented in 2023.
In contrast, Healy believes the regulatory environment in the U.S. is a significant hindrance to scaling drone delivery operations. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has yet to establish clear regulations for drone deliveries, forcing companies like Manna to navigate trials on a case-by-case basis. Despite the U.S. being one of the largest markets, Healy believes Manna’s readiness and experience give the company a distinct advantage in Europe for now.
“Europe is the only place to run a drone delivery business today because it has scalable, concrete regulation,” Healy explained.
Efficiency at Its Core: How Manna Stays Lean
Manna’s operational model is built on efficiency and cost control. The company operates from parking lots at strip malls, where drones are loaded with deliveries after the cargo has been brought out by local retailers. One of the key innovations behind Manna’s success is the battery-swapping model, which allows drones to make multiple deliveries per hour.
By swapping out the drone’s battery after each delivery, Manna can ensure that each drone operates at maximum efficiency, making up to eight deliveries an hour in a three-mile radius. In comparison, competitors like Zipline and Wing rely on drones with integrated batteries, limiting their deliveries to just 1.4 per hour due to the time it takes to recharge.
A single Manna staff member can oversee up to 30 deliveries an hour, with 20 drones monitored remotely by one employee. This streamlined process keeps labor costs low, and Manna’s total cost per delivery hovers around $4. Healy is confident that with increased volume, this cost could decrease to as low as $1 per delivery, further cementing the company’s position in the market.
The Future of Drone Delivery: Scaling the Business
Manna is not just relying on drone technology alone to fuel its growth; it is also forming key partnerships with delivery apps. In 2025, the company has already signed agreements with Wolt (part of DoorDash) and Just Eat, two of the world’s largest delivery services. This collaboration positions Manna to quickly scale its business by tapping into an existing demand for food deliveries.
“We’re focused on delivery apps because it’s the quickest way for us to scale. It’s an open goal for us right now,” Healy says.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Manna?
Manna is an Irish drone startup that focuses on autonomous drone delivery services. The company specializes in providing fast and efficient deliveries, particularly in Dublin, Ireland, and is expanding its operations across Europe.
What is Manna’s goal?
Manna aims to achieve 1.5 million drone deliveries annually in 2025. The company’s long-term goal is to revolutionize the delivery industry by providing quicker, more cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly alternatives to traditional delivery methods.
What types of items does Manna deliver?
Manna delivers a variety of products, with coffee being one of the most popular items. The company also delivers food, books, hardware, and other goods, with a focus on high-demand, time-sensitive products.
How fast can Manna deliver products?
Manna’s drones can deliver products in under three minutes. The company’s efficient delivery system allows for rapid, autonomous flights that minimize the time between order and delivery.
How does Manna’s drone delivery system work?
Manna operates from parking lots in strip malls, where retailers bring the ordered products to the drone landing pads. The drones are equipped with removable cargo bays and batteries, which are swapped out after each delivery. This enables the drones to make multiple deliveries in a short amount of time.
What makes Manna’s drone delivery different from competitors?
Manna uses a battery-swapping system, allowing each drone to make up to eight deliveries per hour, compared to competitors that rely on integrated batteries, which can only make 1.4 deliveries per hour due to recharge time. This efficiency reduces labor costs and increases delivery speed.
Where is Manna currently operating?
Manna currently operates in Dublin, Ireland, and Espoo, Finland. The company is also expanding its operations across Europe, taking advantage of the EU’s regulatory framework for drone delivery.
Conclusion
As drone technology continues to evolve, Manna is positioning itself to lead the charge in the burgeoning drone delivery industry. With its lean operational model, efficient drone design, and strategic partnerships, Manna is poised to revolutionize how goods are delivered, offering a faster, cheaper, and more sustainable alternative to traditional methods. While giants like Amazon and Alphabet have the resources, Manna’s focus on profitability and operational efficiency gives it a clear competitive edge in an industry still in its infancy.
As the company continues to expand in Europe and eyes future growth in the U.S., the drone delivery market is about to get even more exciting. For now, Manna’s drones are quietly, and efficiently, changing the way the world thinks about delivery.