Speedbird Aero, a global company with headquarters in Brazil and Portugal, specializing in unmanned aerial logistics, announces a strategic investment from iFood to accelerate the development and scaling drone delivery operations in Brazil. iFood is Brazil’s dominant food-delivery platform and one of Latin America’s most influential consumer-tech companies. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in São Paulo, the company has grown into the country’s undisputed market leader, with 180 million deliveries in January 2026. The partnership represents a significant step forward in expanding autonomous aerial logistics, with a focus on use cases where traditional delivery faces operational and economic constraints.

Speedbird Aero is currently the only company in Brazil certified by ANAC (Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency) to operate BVLOS flights (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) with two drone models approved for cargo delivery. As part of the partnership, Speedbird will be responsible for manufacturing, operating, and maintaining the drones, as well as securing all required regulatory approvals and licenses, ensuring full compliance with aviation and safety standards.

The investment comes at a moment of operational maturity for Speedbird Aero. In October, the company received ANAC’s first permanent authorization for safe flights over populated areas in the state of Sergipe, Brazil. Launched in 2020, the on-going Sergipe operation is a global pioneer and the longest running food drone delivery operation in the World.

As part of this expansion phase, one of the first new routes being developed is within São Paulo metropolitan area, one of largest urban air mobility markets in the World, connecting a shopping center to nearby residential condominiums. Looking ahead, the joint strategy includes identifying and deploying new long-distance routes that are currently ineƯicient or unviable for traditional delivery. The focus will be on scenarios involving geographic barriers and large residential or commercial complexes, where drones can significantly reduce delivery times while complemented by the work of couriers in the final leg of the journey.

“This investment strengthens our mission to make drones a safe, scalable, and viable logistics mode for large urban centers and regions with geographic challenges,” says Manoel Coelho, CEO of Speedbird Aero. “Our technology is already present in 14 countries, and this partnership allows us to accelerate scale in our home market, as our forecast indicates that Brazil’s drone delivery segment has the potential to surpass 40 million deliveries annually.”

“We work continuously to advance our logistics operation with a forward-looking perspective. We believe in a scenario where couriers remain at the center of deliveries, supported by important technological solutions that further connect neighborhoods and cities to delivery services. This expands restaurants’ exposure to customers, improving the lives of both sellers and consumers,” says Mariana Werneck, Senior Director of Logistics at iFood.

“We believe that innovation means building together with those who master local technology. Speedbird is a Brazilian company that, like us, invests in cutting-edge solutions to address the challenges of our territory.”

The partnership with iFood reinforces Speedbird Aero’s commitment to applying advanced technology to real-world logistics challenges, positioning drones as a complementary solution to traditional delivery models and expanding access for businesses and consumers to faster and more eƯicient services.