Zipline Receives $150M from U.S. State Department to Triple Drone Delivery Network in Africa

The funding, announced by the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF), will support the company’s expansion under a pay-for-performance model aimed at improving last-mile access in underserved regions.

Zipline has secured a $150 million award from the U.S. State Department to triple its drone delivery network across Africa, strengthening automated distribution of HIV medications and other essential health supplies.

The funding, announced by the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF), will support the company’s expansion under a pay-for-performance model aimed at improving last-mile access in underserved regions.

EJAF, one of Zipline’s earliest backers in Africa, disclosed the award while highlighting its long-standing collaboration with the drone logistics company. The partnership, which expanded in 2024, leverages Zipline’s network to deliver antiretroviral therapy (ART) and other critical supplies in Nigeria and other regions facing persistent supply chain gaps.

ART remains central to HIV management, preventing disease progression in individuals who are HIV positive and reducing the risk of transmission. Alongside ART, Zipline, and EJAF jointly distribute condoms, test kits, and other medications, with a focus on reaching community-based organizations that work closely with young people.

“Years ago, the Foundation made a bold investment in Zipline’s game-changing technology because we knew they could deliver testing and treatment to communities that traditional supply chains simply couldn’t reach,” Anne Aslett, CEO of EJAF, said in a statement. She added that the model developed through the partnership has become a self-sustaining system capable of supporting large-scale, long-term delivery needs.

Zipline has continued to expand its healthcare footprint through multiple partnerships with major health systems. Over the past year, the company collaborated with Mayo Clinic and Memorial Hermann Health System to deploy drone-based delivery of medical supplies. Other partners include Intermountain Health, Michigan Medicine, MultiCare Health System, OhioHealth, WellSpan Health, and the Cleveland Clinic.

Funding momentum around the company has also accelerated. In 2023, Zipline raised $330 million in new financing, placing its valuation at approximately $4.2 billion. That same year, Sir Elton John launched The Rocket Fund with Donatella Versace, David Geffen, and several philanthropists—a three-year, $125 million initiative to scale EJAF’s efforts in reducing HIV infection rates in high-risk communities.

The new U.S. State Department award positions Zipline to significantly expand its operational capacity as demand grows for faster, more reliable delivery channels in public health systems across Africa.

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