Entrepreneur Stories
Meet Harshwardhan Zala: A 14 Year Old Who signed a Rs.5 Crore Deal For His Drone
Harshwardhan Zala, a 14 year old boy, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU,) with the Department of Science and Technology of the Government of Gujarat, worth Rs. 5 crores at Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit. The MoU is to explore the possibility of using drones for commercial purposes designed by the young Harshwardhan Zala, who has designed prototypes of three drones in his 10th standard.
Ahmedabad (Gujarat): Harshwardhan Zala, 14, signed a Rs 5 crore-worth MoU with the state government to facilitate production of the drones. pic.twitter.com/MkCdhgd64A
— ANI (@ANI_news) 13 January 2017
The drones designed by him are capable of saving lives by detecting and defusing landmines. He said this idea came to him when he saw on television a large number of soldiers were injured and killed due to landmine blasts while trying to defuse them manually. First, he created a landmine detecting robot, which eventually didn’t work because of its heavy weight. Then he thought of creating a drone which can detect and defuse landmines at a safe distance.
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The three prototypes cost him around Rs. 5 lakhs till now, of that Rs. 2 lakhs were funded by his parents and the remaining Rs. 3 lakh by the State Government.
Coming to the technical aspects of the drone, it is equipped with RGB, infrared sensor, and a thermal meter along with a 21 megapixel camera which can take high resolution pictures. It also carries a 50 grams bomb used to destroy the landmine.
Harshwardhan has already established his company Aerobotics and also registered for a patent.
This young lad with his interest in science made him create such a great product which can save lives. His incredible hard work and dedication are truly an inspiration for all of us.
A decade ago, the success of a startup was measured largely by its ability to raise capital. Today, a different metric is gaining importance: the ability to generate meaningful exits for investors. Large stake sales by early backers are becoming increasingly common, not because growth opportunities have disappeared, but because India’s startup ecosystem is entering a more mature phase where capital is expected to complete its full cycle from investment to returns.
This evolution is particularly significant for consumer brands that have successfully blended technology, retail, and strong brand-building. Companies that were once viewed as high-risk startup bets are now attracting institutional investors capable of absorbing large transactions. Such developments indicate that these businesses are no longer being valued solely on future potential; they are increasingly being assessed on operational performance, market leadership, and long-term profitability. In many ways, investor exits are becoming a validation of a company’s ability to create lasting enterprise value.
The broader implication extends beyond a single company or investor. Successful exits encourage more global capital to enter India’s startup ecosystem because they demonstrate that liquidity opportunities exist at scale. As more venture-backed companies approach public listings, secondary transactions, or strategic investments, the focus of founders and investors alike may shift from chasing headline valuations to building durable businesses. The next chapter of India’s startup journey will likely be defined not just by the creation of unicorns, but by the creation of companies capable of delivering sustained returns to all stakeholders.
Apple has unveiled the new MacBook Air with M5 chip, starting at $999 for 13-inch and $1,299 for 15-inch models. The MacBook Air M5 boasts a 2nm M5 chip with 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU, and 50 TOPS Neural Engine for seamless AI tasks like real-time translation and 8K editing. Up to 22 hours of battery life, Thunderbolt 5, and Wi-Fi 7 make it the ultimate ultraportable, now 10% thinner at 0.44 inches with fanless cooling.
Key MacBook Air M5 features include Liquid Retina XDR display (500 nits, nano-texture option), 12MP Center Stage camera, and six-speaker Spatial Audio. Colors like new Sky Blue join Midnight and Starlight. Pre-orders are live today, with macOS Sequoia 15.4 enhancing Apple Intelligence and iPhone Continuity for students, pros, and remote workers.
Why buy MacBook Air M5 now? It outpaces Snapdragon X Elite rivals with ecosystem magic and future-proof performance, eyeing top 2026 laptop sales. CEO Tim Cook calls it “more capable than ever.” Visit apple.com for M5 MacBook deals and specs.
Delhi NCR-based gaming startup Zupee has acquired Mumbai-based microdrama platform Vertical TV in a deal valued under INR 40 Cr. This move strengthens Zupee Studio, its short-video arm launched in September 2025, by integrating Vertical TV’s expertise in bite-sized dramas like romance and thrillers.
Facing challenges from India’s 2025 real-money gaming ban, Zupee valued at $1 Bn after raising $120 Mn has pivoted to non-gaming content, including recent layoffs of 40% of its workforce. The acquisition builds on its November 2025 purchase of Australian AI firm Nucanon for interactive storytelling, targeting its 200 Mn+ users with engaging, mobile-first formats.
This deal underscores the rising microdrama trend in India, helping Zupee diversify amid regulatory pressures and compete in the short-video space dominated by quick, shareable content for on-the-go audiences.
