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Malaysian drone firm Aonic raises $10m series A

Aonic, a Malaysia-founded drone company operating across Southeast Asia, said it secured US$10 million in a series A led by Kairous Capital, which is backed by Jelawang Capital, to fund R&D and global expansion.

The company said its agriculture drones have increased farmers’ income by 50%, boosted farm output by about 54%, and reduced water use for spraying by roughly 75%, based on internal performance data across participating farms compared with manual methods.

Aonic said it has grown at a triple-digit CAGR since 2022, reached more than US$60 million in annual revenue, and has been profitable since 2023. These figures are company-reported.

The firm also said its drones are sold and deployed in over 15 countries and it operates more than 50 sales, service, and spare-parts centres across Southeast Asia.

Kairous Capital said the investment will support deeper R&D and greater manufacturing capacity in Malaysia, while Aonic is expanding its reseller and distributor network into global markets.

🔗 Source: Aonic

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

A profitable startup’s Series A signals strategic capital

  • Aonic says it has been profitable since 2023 and brings in more than US$60 million in annual revenue, which is rare for a Series A.
  • Series A rounds often back companies that still burn cash or spend ahead of revenue while they find and scale product-market fit.
  • Based on Aonic’s reported numbers, the US$10 million looks aimed at expanding R&D and adding manufacturing capacity in Malaysia.

Aonic’s growth points to a shift beyond drone hardware

  • Aonic reports more than 50 sales, service, and spare-parts centres across Southeast Asia, which supports ongoing operations beyond initial drone sales.
  • That footprint supports maintenance and customer support, which can build stickier relationships and steadier revenue than hardware alone.
  • Aonic also leans into industry-focused offerings. It reports agriculture results that include higher farmer income, increased farm output, and lower water use versus manual methods. The approach aligns with a wider tech push toward solving specific problems in verticals such as agriculture.

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