Adrian Schmidt is the visionary German entrepreneur along with co-founders Rakesh and Shivam leading the charge in India’s urban air mobility revolution. After studying transportation design at Hochschule Pforzheim and working with automotive giants Mercedes‑Benz and Volkswagen, he transitioned to aerospace—designing electric aircraft at Lilium in Germany. In October 2023, Adrian co‑founded Sarla Aviation in Bengaluru to bring a Made‑in‑India eVTOL flying taxi to fruition.
Spearheading the development of Shunya—a 6‑seat, high‑payload, cost‑optimised electric air taxi—Adrian secured a $10M Series A, led by Accel and backed by notable angel investors, aimed at launching commercial operations in India by 2028.
Under his leadership, Sarla has already partnered with Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport to create a dedicated eVTOL corridor—promising 19‑minute flights where road commutes frequently stretch over two hours.
Adrian isn’t just building a product—he’s building a movement. His mission: democratise aerial travel to reduce traffic congestion, cut emissions, and unlock economic opportunity, aligning with India’s push towards a more developed, sustainable future.