Ireland's Manna Picks Tulsa for US Drone Delivery Push, Targeting 1,000 Jobs
Autonomous drone-delivery startup Manna is opening its first full-scale US operations and manufacturing center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, targeting 1,000 employees and expansion into six more cities by 2027.
Key Takeaways
Manna Air Delivery is opening its first full-scale US operations and manufacturing hub in Tulsa, Oklahoma, targeting roughly 1,000 employees over the next several years.
The Tulsa factory is under construction and will begin manufacturing in about a year; the operations team will grow to 200-300 people within 12 months.
The expansion is funded by Manna's €45 million ($50 million) Series B closed in April, with former Ryanair CMO Kenny Jacobs joining as executive chair and president to lead the US push.
Six additional US cities are under evaluation for entry by the end of 2027, positioning Manna against Zipline, Amazon Prime Air, and Google's Wing.
CEO Bobby Healy credits FAA regulatory progress for enabling scale; Manna recently withdrew from Ireland over missing planning regulations to focus on the US.
Kaan Tınmaz
Irish autonomous drone-delivery pioneer Manna Air Delivery is opening a major US operations and manufacturing hub in Tulsa, Oklahoma, staking its future on the American market as it takes on Zipline, Amazon Prime Air, and Google's Wing. The 1,000-person hub is Manna's first US metropolitan operation and is funded from the €45 million ($50 million) Series B the company closed in April.
1,000 jobs and a Tulsa factory
Manna CEO Bobby Healy told TechCrunch that construction of the Tulsa factory is already underway and manufacturing will begin in about a year. The company plans to grow its operations team to 200–300 people over the next 12 months as delivery scaling kicks off, before adding manufacturing headcount to reach roughly 1,000 employees over the next several years. Former Ryanair CMO Kenny Jacobs joined as executive chair and president to lead the US push.
Six more US cities on deck for 2027
Tulsa becomes Manna's central US operational base, with six additional cities under active evaluation for entry by the end of 2027. Manna's autonomous drones don't land — they hover and lower parcels on a tether, similar to Wing and Zipline. The company operates a delivery-as-a-service model in Europe with partners including DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Deliveroo, and previously ran limited US operations in the AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone near Dallas-Fort Worth since 2023.
Why the US, and why now
Healy said Manna is pouring every penny into US expansion because the FAA has finally opened the door for scale. "It's trickling down into raw investment," he told TechCrunch. Manna joins the ranks of Amazon Prime Air's Nebraska expansion and Wing's Walmart national rollout as US drone delivery finally scales beyond pilot cities. The company recently withdrew from Ireland, citing missing planning regulations, sharpening its focus on the American market.
Reporting based on coverage from TechCrunch, Manna Aero's blog, Silicon Republic, and Business Wire.
Where is Manna building its US drone delivery hub?
Manna is building its first full-scale US operations and manufacturing center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which will serve as its central US operational base.
How many jobs will Manna create in Tulsa?
Manna plans about 1,000 employees over the next several years, starting with 200-300 operations staff in the first 12 months before adding manufacturing headcount.
How do Manna's delivery drones work?
Manna's autonomous drones don't land; they hover and lower parcels on a tether, similar to Wing and Zipline. In Europe, Manna runs a delivery-as-a-service model with partners like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Deliveroo.
When will Manna expand beyond Tulsa in the US?
Six additional US cities are under active evaluation for entry by the end of 2027. Manna has also operated limited US flights in the AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone near Dallas-Fort Worth since 2023.
