Saving lives in sky: Texas college students raise $1.85 million for medical cargo drone startup that can deliver life-saving supplies in minutes
How seven college students built a life-saving startup How the life-saving drone system works Awards and growing industry interest Seven Rice University students in Texas
How seven college students built a life-saving startup How the life-saving drone system works Awards and growing industry interest Seven Rice University students in Texas have turned a classroom project into a startup with ambitions to transform healthcare logistics. Their company, Haast Autonomous, has secured $1.85 million in pre-seed funding to develop a drone-based transport system designed to move critical medical supplies quickly and safely between hospitals. The team believes existing healthcare networks rely too heavily on ground couriers and expensive air transport, creating delays for sensitive cargo. Their solution combines custom-built aircraft with software that manages dispatch and tracks deliveries in real time. The founders plan to spend their first year after graduation working full time on the venture, with pilot trials expected to begin in early 2027.Haast Autonomous was founded by graduating seniors Ege Halac, Jason Chen and Santiago Brent. The trio first developed the idea through Rice University's Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Summer Venture Studio and later built prototypes at the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen.They were joined by fellow engineering students Felix Hasson, Ethan Javedan, Kenna Sanders and Caden Schmidt.
Together, the seven-member team transformed a capstone design project into a startup focused on mission-critical logistics.As healthcare systems become increasingly centralised, many specialised laboratories, blood banks and diagnostic services are concentrated in fewer locations. However, transporting biological samples and emergency supplies between facilities still depends largely on road couriers or costly aircraft.The founders say this creates a need for faster and more reliable transport. Their platform aims to reduce delays and ensure critical materials reach doctors and patients when time matters most.Haast's aircraft can take off and land vertically, allowing it to operate from existing hospital facilities. Once airborne, it transitions into horizontal flight to cover longer distances efficiently.The current prototype can travel between 50 and 62 miles while carrying at least five pounds of cargo. Its payload compartment regulates temperature, pressure, vibration and tilt, making it suitable for transporting patient samples, antivenom, poisoning kits and specialised therapies.According to co-founder Jason Chen, the drone itself is only one part of the system.
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