Company Overview
About Pyka
Pyka Inc. is an Oakland, California-based aerospace company founded in 2017 by Michael Norcia and Ed More, focused on designing and operating autonomous electric aircraft for agricultural and logistics applications. Its flagship product, the Pelican Spray, is a fixed-wing autonomous electric aircraft designed for precision aerial application of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers across large-acreage row crops, orchards, and specialty agriculture. The Pelican Spray holds the distinction of being the largest certified autonomous aircraft in the world by wingspan, capable of carrying a 150-gallon payload and covering up to 500 acres per day — far exceeding the coverage capacity of ground-based equipment and human-piloted aerial spray aircraft.
Business Model & Competitive Advantage
Pyka raised a $37M Series B in 2023 led by Playground Global, with participation from existing investors, bringing total funding to approximately $57M. The company operates in a contract services model as well as direct aircraft sales, running commercial spraying operations across the United States, Brazil, and Australia — targeting the large and fragmented agricultural aerial application market dominated by aging manned aircraft and ground rigs. Pyka also unveiled the Pelican Cargo, a companion autonomous electric aircraft platform designed for time-sensitive logistics in remote or infrastructure-limited regions, expanding the company's addressable market beyond agriculture.
Competitive Landscape 2025–2026
Pyka's technology stack integrates its proprietary electric propulsion systems, onboard autonomy software, precision GPS and sensor guidance, and cloud-connected fleet management — enabling remote monitoring of all aircraft operations from a ground control interface. The autonomous capability eliminates the need for a human pilot onboard, dramatically reducing operating costs relative to manned aerial application and enabling more precise, GPS-guided spray delivery that reduces chemical waste and drift. Pyka''s approach positions it as a full-stack autonomous aviation platform for precision agriculture rather than a simple drone manufacturer.
Key Differentiators
Emerging Innovator
Pyka is an emerging player bringing innovative solutions to the Food, Beverage & AgTech market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Estimated Visibility Trend (Beta)
Simulated 8-week rolling score
Based on estimated brand signals. Historical tracking coming soon.
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