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.
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