Manna Drone Delivery to Create 400 Jobs as Cork Operations Take Flight

Irish drone delivery company Manna Air Delivery has announced plans to create 400 new jobs across Ireland and the United States, off the back of a $50 million Series B funding round that brings total investment in the company to $110 million. The positions will span robotics, software engineering, mechanical engineering, aviation operations, ground operations, and regulatory functions, with the company's global workforce set to grow from 170 to over 570.

The announcement has particular significance for Cork, where Manna has been running a pilot programme from a base at Marina Market on Centre Park Road since February. The operation has seen drones delivering food from local independent traders, including La Cantina, Frankie's, and Burritos & Blues, to customers in the surrounding area. The company has indicated that a successful full rollout could support up to 50 direct jobs in Cork, and it has also expressed interest in partnering with community groups to explore delivering meals to those who need them most.

Investors in the latest round include ARK Invest, the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), and Schooner Capital, joining existing backers Coca-Cola HBC, Molten Ventures, and Enterprise Ireland. Manna designs, builds, and operates its drones and software entirely in Ireland, and holds a Gold Standard Light UAS Operator Certificate under the European Union Aviation Safety Agency framework. The company has completed more than 250,000 regulated drone flights to date.

Bobby Healy, CEO and Founder, said:

"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. 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."

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke welcomed the news:

"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."

Rebekah Brady, Interim Director at ISIF, said:

"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. 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, said:

"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."

More information is available at manna.aero.