Air saves lives: Texas college student raises $1.85 million for medical cargo drone startup that can deliver life-saving supplies in minutes | World News
Seven students at Rice University in Texas turned a class project into a startup with ambitions to transform health care logistics. Their company, Haast Autonomous, has received $1.85 million in pre-seed funding to develop a drone-based transportation system designed to quickly and safely transport critical medical supplies between hospitals. The team believes that existing medical networks rely too much on ground express delivery and expensive air transport, causing delays for sensitive cargo. Their solution combines customized aircraft with software that manages scheduling and tracks deliveries in real time. The founders plan to devote the first year after graduation to the business full-time, with the pilot expected to begin in early 2027.
How seven college students launched a life-saving startup
Haast Autonomous was founded by recent graduates Ege Halac, Jason Chen and Santiago Brent. The trio first pitched the idea through Rice University’s Liu Creative Lab Innovation and Entrepreneurship Summer Startup Studio and later built a prototype in the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen.They were joined by engineering students Felix Hasson, Ethan Javedan, Kenna Sanders and Caden Schmidt. Together, the seven-person team transformed a capstone design project into a startup focused on mission-critical logistics.As the health care system becomes increasingly centralized, many specialty laboratories, blood banks, and diagnostic services are concentrated in fewer locations. However, transporting biological samples and emergency supplies between facilities still relies heavily on road couriers or expensive aircraft.This creates a need for faster, more reliable shipping, the founders say. Their platform is designed to reduce delays and ensure critical materials get to doctors and patients when it matters most.
How life-saving drone systems work
Hastert’s aircraft can take off and land vertically, allowing it to operate within existing hospital facilities. Once airborne, it transitions to level flight to effectively cover greater distances.The current prototype can carry at least 5 pounds of cargo for 50 to 62 miles. Its payload bay regulates temperature, pressure, vibration and tilt, making it suitable for transporting patient samples, antivenom, poisoning kits and specialized treatments.According to co-founder Jason Chen, the drone itself is only part of the system. Hospitals will be able to request flights, track shipments in real-time and maintain detailed chain-of-custody records.Behind the scenes, software manages aircraft availability, flight telemetry and airspace restrictions. The company eventually plans to operate an entire fleet rather than individual drones.The team used Rice University’s engineering facilities to produce 13 iterations of the aircraft in just 16 weeks. Using 3D printing technology, they managed to keep the cost of each prototype under $1,000.The founders adopted an approach focused on rapid testing and continuous improvement, allowing them to perfect the aircraft design while maintaining affordability.
Awards and growing industry interest
The project has already generated recognition. At the 2026 Oshman Engineering Design Showcase and Competition, the team won the award for Best Aerospace or Transportation Technology and received third place in the Wiley Revolution Outstanding Innovation Award.Haast also received the Chan-Kang Family Bold Ambition Award and Healthcare Innovation Award at the 2026 H. Albert Napier Rice Launch. Off campus, the startup has spoken with hundreds of potential customers, secured letters of intent, and partnered with Airspace Link to support autonomous flight operations.Bigger ambitions beyond organ transportThe founders initially envisioned transporting organs for transplant, but they quickly realized the technology could solve a broader challenge. Their platform could ultimately support mission-critical transportation across multiple industries.With $1.85 million in new funding, the company plans to launch pilot trials in early 2027, followed by commercial deployment later that year. The team believes the combination of its aircraft and logistics software can help create one of the fastest and most secure transport networks for sensitive cargo.
