India, Aug. 27 -- For nearly eight years, Raphe mPhibr stayed out of the spotlight.

While Indian startups chased rapid growth, unicorn status and successive funding rounds, the Noida-based company was focused on building drones for India's armed forces, developing its own manufacturing capabilities and hiring engineers who could solve problems in aerodynamics, flight controls, electronics and materials science.

The startup rarely spoke about its work. Even as its unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) began reaching the Indian defence forces, Raphe remained largely unknown outside the defence and aerospace ecosystem.

Things changed in June 2025, when Raphe raised $100 Mn in a funding round led by General Catalyst, taking its total capital rai...