Manna, the Irish-founded and headquartered autonomous delivery startup, announced an accelerated push into the American southwest with Tulsa, Oklahoma, chosen as the site for its first full-scale U.S. operation. The company said 90% of Tulsans will be able to place orders for delivery by its autonomous drones within the next year.
Executive chairman Kenny Jacobs outlined the rollout plan, saying Manna will begin flying orders for partners such as DoorDash, McDonald’s and Uber Eats within the next two months. The company aims to have 40 operating bases across Oklahoma’s second most populous city by mid-2027.
Jacobs characterized this region - including Oklahoma and nearby Texas - as a proving ground for drone delivery at scale. "This part of the U.S., Oklahoma, Texas, states around here will really be the battleground for scaling up and proving all types of drone delivery globally," he said at the launch of Manna’s U.S. operation.
On the immediate operational focus, Jacobs added: "The technology is proven. Now it’s about the commercial scalability and showing how quickly you can open up bases and deliver all types of things." He joined Manna this week, bringing experience from roles that included Dublin Airport and Ryanair marketing leadership.
Manna has completed more than 300,000 deliveries to date, primarily in Ireland, where it recently paused services because of what it described as the absence of clear national planning regulations. That regulatory uncertainty in its home market has not deterred the company from pursuing expansion in the United States, where Jacobs said he expects fewer such hurdles.
He signaled an expectation of further U.S. growth, saying he would be "amazed" if Manna did not move into another U.S. city by the end of the year. Potential targets named as attractive include other parts of Oklahoma, Texas and Arizona.
One factor Manna highlights in its ability to scale is the small physical footprint required for each local launch site. Jacobs noted that each base is no larger than four car parking spaces, which the company says lowers capital expenditure per site and supports rapid expansion.
Financially, Manna completed a $50 million Series B funding round earlier this year. Looking beyond the United States, the company hopes to enter Britain by early 2028 and is considering the United Arab Emirates as an earlier Middle East destination.
Summary
Manna intends to make drone delivery widely available in Tulsa within a year, starting partner flights within months and scaling to 40 bases by mid-2027. The company is positioning the U.S. southwest as the critical region to demonstrate commercial scalability and plans additional U.S. expansion and international entry into Britain and the UAE.
Key points
- Operational rollout: 90% of Tulsa residents expected to access drone delivery within a year, with partner flights beginning in about two months and 40 bases by mid-2027.
- Capital and footprint: Each local Manna launch site is described as no larger than four car parking spaces, enabling low capital expenditure per base and faster scaling.
- Strategic positioning: The company views Oklahoma, Texas and nearby states as the battleground for proving large-scale drone delivery; it has completed over 300,000 deliveries largely in Ireland and raised $50 million in Series B funding earlier this year.
Risks and uncertainties
- Regulatory risk: Manna paused services in Ireland citing a lack of clear national planning regulations, highlighting how local regulatory frameworks can affect operations and expansion.
- Commercial scalability: While the technology is described as proven, the company must demonstrate the speed and economics of opening multiple bases and sustaining varied delivery types.
- Competitive landscape: Manna will be competing with established and emerging players in the U.S. drone delivery market, creating uncertainty around market share and pace of adoption.