Zipline seeks $1 billion funding that would value it at $20 billion

Zipline is in talks to raise roughly $1 billion, a round that would value the company at about $20 billion, according to Bloomberg. The FAA proposal under review would allow as many as 220,000 drone deliveries per day from 220 charging stations and 4,400 pickup kiosks across five Texas metros, up from the roughly 30,000 daily flights currently authorized in Dallas‑Fort Worth.

The FAA opened the review last week and is accepting public comments through Oct. 11.

“The proposed rules are very complicated,” acknowledged Mark McKinnon, an aviation attorney at Fox Rothschild who leads the firm’s drone practice,” Mark McKinnon, aviation attorney at Fox Rothschild said.

“You cannot just fly with a fancy drone,” Skou said. “You have to have the infrastructure, or the digital or the air traffic control layer that makes sure that drones are not colliding in the air,” Jesper Skou, cofounder and CEO of Skypuzzler said.

Paradigm invested $200 million in Zipline in March and is reportedly in discussion to lead the new funding round, while Tiger Global Management is considering participating. Earlier this year, Amazon Prime Air said it plans to expand drone delivery to nearly 500 cities and towns by year‑end, Zipline partnered with Uber Eats to start drone deliveries in Dallas and Houston, and DoorDash obtained FAA Part 135 certification to run its own drone air carrier. Walmart continues to expand its work with Wing and Zipline, aiming to reach hundreds of stores.

What we know

Zipline is in talks to raise roughly $1 billion.
The funding round would value the company at roughly $20 billion.
This valuation would nearly triple the $7.6 billion valuation set in January.
The FAA proposal would allow as many as 220,000 drone deliveries per day from 220 charging stations and 4,400 pickup kiosks across five Texas metros.
Zipline is currently authorized for roughly 30,000 daily deliveries in Dallas‑Fort Worth.