The archive · Hardware & Devices · Product decision · 2024–2025
Psyche Aerospace's giant farm drone raised R$19M, failed to sell, and was killed in 2025
Psyche Aerospace raised R$19M for Harpia P-71, the 'world's largest farm drone', got no firm orders, and shut the division with 130 layoffs in 2025.
Psyche Aerospace
What the business is
Aerospace startup building Harpia P-71, an ethanol-electric agricultural spraying drone, later pivoting to AI crop monitoring.
Starting capital：R$19 million raised from investors for the drone program
How it started
Founded by 24-year-old Gabriel Leal in São José dos Campos (SP), Psyche announced Harpia P-71, an ethanol-and-electric drone able to carry 400 kg of crop protection, targeting up to 500,000 hectares of spraying in Brazil; it raised R$19 million and drew attention from major agribusiness names.
What happened
Harpia was showcased at Agrishow and other fairs, but letters of intent never became contracts because practical field tests failed. A 2024 attempt to raise R$50 million fell short, while development consumed millions of reais per month, forcing the shutdown.
How it ended up
On May 16, 2025 Psyche ended its drone division and laid off 130 employees. The company kept 25–30 staff in Campinas and pivoted to Turing, an AI platform that monitors crops via satellite imagery; founder Gabriel Leal said Harpia could return only with US$30–50 million in new investment.
Background
Psyche Aerospace, founded by 24-year-old Gabriel Leal in São José dos Campos, Brazil, announced the Harpia P-71: an ethanol-and-electric drone with a 400 kg payload billed as the world's largest agricultural aircraft, able to spray up to 500,000 hectares. The startup raised R$19 million and won attention from major agribusiness players.
The drone was showcased at fairs such as Agrishow, but letters of intent never became contracts because practical field tests did not deliver. A 2024 attempt to raise R$50 million failed while development consumed millions of reais a month.
On May 16, 2025 Psyche shut down its drone division and laid off 130 employees. A team of 25–30 remains in Campinas working on Turing, an AI platform that uses satellite images to detect pests and diseases in crops. Leal says Harpia could return only if investors put up US$30–50 million.
What has to be true
- A giant hardware bet needs orders, not applause: hype at ag fairs never converted into a single firm contract.
- The 2024 R$50M round failed because investors wanted proven field performance, which tests never delivered.
- Development burned millions per month, so without new capital the company ran out of runway before the product worked.
- Letters of intent looked like demand but were conditional on tests — a pipeline that looks full and delivers nothing.
What can be applied
Hype and letters of intent are not orders: Psyche scaled its drone before proving it, so when field tests failed, revenue and the next round vanished together and killed the program.
Aftermath
As of mid-2025 Psyche Aerospace operated with 25–30 staff in Campinas, focused on Turing, an AI crop-monitoring platform using satellite imagery to identify pests and diseases, with a new version planned within 30 days. Founder Gabriel Leal told the press the Harpia project could be revived only if investors committed US$30–50 million; the drone remains grounded.
Sources
- Maior drone agrícola do mundo fracassa e gera prejuízo em startup brasileira; entenda
- Maior drone agrícola do mundo não decola e startup faz demissão em massa; saiba detalhes
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