Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Gurugram, AVPL International is reshaping India’s rural economy through agricultural drone technology and large scale skill development. The company operates one of the country’s largest Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) models, combining innovation in precision farming with entrepreneurship opportunities for rural youth. From developing and deploying the VIRAJ agricultural drone across millions of acres to establishing 70+ certified training hubs, AVPL has enabled over 130,000 individuals to become drone entrepreneurs.
In this conversation with Vaishali Mehta of Agrotech Space, Dr Preet Sandhu, Founder and Managing Director of AVPL International, reflects on her entrepreneurial journey, the evolution of the company, and her vision for drones in agriculture. She shares insights on scaling innovation while keeping rural needs at the center, the role of collaborations in strengthening R&D, and how India’s semiconductor push could transform affordability and adoption of drone based solutions. Following are edited excerpts from the interview:
Vaishali Mehta: Can you share your journey into entrepreneurship, what inspired you to establish AVPL International, and how the company has grown over time?
Dr Preet Sandhu: My journey began in 2008. In 2007, I had completed my graduation and got selected for MSc Physics, but I did not want to pursue that path as I was always inclined toward business education. So in 2008, I left my hometown, Amritsar, and enrolled for an MBA. While pursuing the degree, I was also working, and by 2011 I had completed my MBA.
Around that time, I met my husband, Deep. During our discussions, we identified a gap between industry and academia. After completing our studies, we realized that suitable opportunities were scarce, and that pushed us toward entrepreneurship. In 2013, after we got married, we continued working with different organizations, mainly in placements and training.
In 2016, we officially started AVPL International, initially focusing on training programs in rural and semi urban areas. Most of the participants were either school pass-outs or college dropouts. While training them, we noticed a challenge: although the natural outcome of training should have been employment, students were unwilling to leave their hometowns for jobs offering salaries of only INR 7K-10K. Many preferred to stay back because of alternatives like NREGA and other local opportunities.
By 2019, we realized the need to create self employment opportunities instead of preparing candidates to move out for jobs. Since most trainees came from agricultural backgrounds, we introduced drone technology, which was being strongly encouraged by the Government of India for precision farming. We started drone pilot training and developed the one drone, one village model. Through this, trained students could offer drones as a service to farmers, particularly for spraying, and earn up to INR 800K annually.
This became a turning point. Instead of training candidates to migrate for employment, our focus shifted to enabling them to become self employed. As drone training progressed, we also saw the need to manufacture drones. Our first agriculture drone received DGCA certification in 2024. Since then, we have expanded into developing drones with higher payload capacities, diversifying into defense, and conducting R&D with IIT Kanpur. We are also serving other industries such as mining and power, where drone based services are increasingly required.
Vaishali Mehta: What core values guide your leadership style, both as an innovator and as a mentor to your team?
Dr Preet Sandhu: Vaishali, when you decide to become an entrepreneur, there is one essential trait, you must always remain grounded. Along with that, you need to be someone who can engage with the team in a detailed and thorough manner. As an academician and a doctorate by qualification, I also write research papers and carry out R&D in collaboration with institutions such as IIT Kanpur.
“For me, collaboration is fundamental. Unless there is collaboration between industry and academia, it is difficult to add real value to the system.”
When you add that kind of value, you become a leader who is grounded, empathetic, and capable of getting things done through a collaborative approach. These traits, combined with a thorough and detail oriented nature, are what I believe truly add value to any organization.
In my own company, I work alongside highly experienced professionals, some with 40 or even 50 years of expertise. As a woman in this environment, I ensure that I bring clarity of vision and a detailed, structured approach. This allows others to align with the vision and contribute meaningfully, enabling us to move the organization forward together. I believe these are the traits that not only guide my leadership but also add value to the larger ecosystem.
Vaishali Mehta: What challenges did you face while building AVPL’s drone ecosystem for Indian agriculture, and how did you overcome them?
Dr Preet Sandhu: When we started working with drones, the challenges were many. At that time, drone technology was still very new in India. The biggest hurdle was the lack of suitable talent. We could find people who had some experience with drones, but they were very expensive, and because there was such a shortage of capable candidates, either they would demand high salaries or they would not deliver the results we expected in terms of the required outputs.
There were many such challenges, but I have always believed that for every problem, there is a solution. While facing these issues, I cracked the code. I realized that instead of relying on a limited talent pool or getting trapped by consultants, we should directly approach premier institutes like the IITs. I began reaching out to professors and researchers there, and we started projects in collaboration with them. This allowed us to strengthen the R&D capacity of the company and ensured that we were not dependent on overpriced or unreliable external resources.
When I first entered the drone ecosystem, I was not fully aware of many aspects. With high demand and a scarcity of skilled people, there was also a risk of exploitation, where consultants or intermediaries might take undue advantage of the situation. I avoided that entirely by choosing not to go through mediators or consultants. Instead, I focused on building direct collaborations with academia. Researchers and professors in premier institutes are committed to supporting industry, and they work on real time projects that bring tangible solutions.
That approach helped us overcome the talent and R&D challenges. Today, I can proudly say that our R&D is very strong. We are currently working on four to five problem statements within the drone industry, developing advanced solutions, conducting demonstrations, and steadily making our products more sophisticated. This is how we were able to overcome the initial challenges and build a strong foundation for our drone ecosystem.
Vaishali Mehta: How do you ensure that AVPL International’s innovations remain relevant and impactful for small and marginal farmers in India?
Dr Preet Sandhu: When I talk about farmers, I never assume that they are going to purchase drones themselves, no. In India, we have an agricultural ecosystem where most farmers own small or marginal landholdings. Such farmers cannot afford to buy expensive technologies like drones. That is precisely why we created a model based on the principle of one drone entrepreneur, one village.
In this model, a trained drone entrepreneur provides drone-as-a-service to the farmers. The farmers do not have to buy the equipment. Instead, whenever they need spraying or other precision farming applications, they simply call the drone entrepreneur, who comes with the drone, carries out the work, and then leaves. The farmers pay for the service in the same way they were earlier paying for manual spraying done by laborers using water tanks and other traditional methods.
The cost to the farmer is almost equivalent to what they were already paying, but now they get the benefit of advanced technology that improves efficiency, saves time, and enhances precision.
When we look at small and marginal farmers, I strongly believe that as a country we should not expect them to buy such technologies outright. Instead, the focus should be on creating local entrepreneurs in villages who can offer technology as a service.
This is the approach that ensures our innovation is not only accessible but also truly impactful for the farmers. Only when services are provided in this way can we encourage small and marginal farmers to adopt precision farming practices in a sustainable manner.
Vaishali Mehta: According to you, in what ways has the ‘Drone Didi’ initiative contributed to women’s empowerment in rural communities?
Dr Preet Sandhu: The ‘Drone Didi’ scheme is designed primarily for women’s self help groups. These groups have existed for decades, where a few women would come together, pool their savings, and collectively invest in some activity. Traditionally, these activities were centered on products and services such as handicrafts, pickle making, or bakery items.
Now, with this initiative, those same self help groups are being connected to drones. Of course, this is a completely new technology for them, and naturally there are challenges. It will take time for the technology to be fully understood, accepted, and integrated into their work. But gradually, it is creating opportunities for women to participate in precision agriculture services using drones, and more importantly, it is giving them a sense of confidence that they can engage with advanced technology to generate income.
At present, there are still some hurdles, for example, after sales service remains a challenge, and being a new technology, there are initial glitches that need to be addressed. But I believe that with time, these issues will be resolved. This initiative is a strong step toward empowering rural women, giving them both economic opportunities and a sense of pride in being able to use modern technology.
Vaishali Mehta: How do you identify and prioritize new areas of opportunity for AVPL’s growth and innovation?
Dr Preet Sandhu: I always say that while we are a drone company, I do not see us as being limited to drones alone. For drones to truly advance, they must become a fusion of multiple technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and robotics. That is why, as a company, we are going deeper into deep tech.
We are currently working on developing a drone that is not just “eyes in the sky” but can also be equipped with arms to pick up or manipulate objects wherever required. This means we are integrating robotics into the drone ecosystem in a meaningful way.
In addition, we are actively incorporating AI, ML, and IoT. We are not ignoring the new age technologies; instead, we are deliberately amalgamating and infusing them with drones. Our aim is to experiment with these technologies to create more advanced and versatile drones that go far beyond traditional applications.
So, in our approach, if you are part of the drone ecosystem, you cannot afford to ignore emerging technologies. You must look at deep tech as the natural path forward, and that is exactly how we identify and prioritize opportunities for growth and innovation at AVPL.
Vaishali Mehta: What role do partnerships, such as those with IIT Kanpur and skill development organizations, play in your strategic roadmap?
Dr Preet Sandhu: The role of these partnerships is fundamental. In technology, two elements are always critical: building a skilled workforce and fostering advanced innovation. Through collaborations with skill development organizations, we ensure a steady pipeline of trained professionals who can support the growth of the drone ecosystem. At the same time, our association with premier institutes like IIT Kanpur allows us to work on advanced R&D, tackle complex problem statements, and develop innovative solutions. Together, these partnerships form the backbone of our strategic roadmap, ensuring we stay future ready while continuously strengthening talent and technology.
Vaishali Mehta: How do you balance business scalability with staying true to AVPL’s vision?
Dr Preet Sandhu: If I talk about my belief system, I have always believed that there must be a clear vision. At AVPL, we have curated that vision and we are consistently working to achieve it. When you put in the right efforts and your business model is already tested, you don’t need to run after money, revenue will automatically follow. The key is to keep the vision in front of you and scale the model accordingly. That is how we maintain balance. We don’t chase money; instead, we focus on scaling a proven model, and financial growth naturally comes with it.
Vaishali Mehta: What strategies do you use to sustain AVPL’s competitive edge in a rapidly evolving tech landscape?
Dr Preet Sandhu: If we talk about the drone sector, the reality is that even if you take the global market as a whole, all companies together have covered only about 10 percent of the potential. The remaining 90 percent is still an open ocean. For us, this means there is less competition and more opportunity, provided we continue to expand our capacity and capability over time.
In the drone ecosystem, you don’t simply make a product, take it to market, and ask people to buy it. It works the other way around, you first go to the client, understand their problem statement, and then design a solution tailored to their needs. That is how we approach innovation and growth.
So, I would say we don’t really fear competition, because we believe the market is still largely a vacuum waiting to be filled. Our strategy is to focus on capacity building, problem solving, and client driven solutions rather than worrying about competitors.
Vaishali Mehta: How do you balance innovation with the practical needs of rural farmers? Are there any barriers to farmers adopting drone based services?
Dr Preet Sandhu: We are not selling drones directly to farmers, because small and marginal farmers cannot afford such technology. Instead, we train local entrepreneurs who provide drone services in their own villages. They understand how to communicate with farmers and make the technology accessible in a way that meets local needs. Initially, there is hesitation, as farmers are cautious about trying new methods. But once they see that drone spraying is cost effective, faster, and delivers good results, those barriers gradually come down. This service based approach helps us balance innovation with the practical realities of rural farming.
Vaishali Mehta: What is your vision for drone technology in agriculture, both in India and globally?
Dr Preet Sandhu: If I talk about my vision for India, it is one drone entrepreneur, one village. Every village should have a trained drone entrepreneur who can provide services directly to farmers. That is the first and most important part of the vision.
Also read: INTERVIEW | Nikita Tiwari on Bridging Precision Tech and Smallholder Realities with NEERX
If I talk about the global perspective, I believe there should be a strong vertical built around after sales service, repair, and maintenance. Unless this ecosystem is created properly, large scale adoption will not happen. My vision is that drones should eventually become as accessible and widely used as mobile phones are today.
Vaishali Mehta: How do you foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation within your company?
Dr Preet Sandhu: I am a researcher. I am always reading, exploring new ideas, and meeting people from different fields. I love listening to others, and I have the patience to understand their perspectives. This habit of continuous learning and open exchange of ideas helps me encourage the same culture within my company, where innovation comes from staying curious and receptive.
Vaishali Mehta: Do you see drones becoming a standard farm input like tractors and irrigation systems?
Dr Preet Sandhu: Yes, I believe drones will eventually become a standard farm input, just like tractors and irrigation systems. But it will take time. Farmers need to gradually build confidence in the technology, and the ecosystem of training, services, and after sales support must strengthen. With time, as awareness and accessibility increase, drones will certainly become a regular part of farming practices.
Vaishali Mehta: How do you envision your legacy and the future impact of AVPL over the next decade?
Dr Preet Sandhu: We want AVPL to be recognized as a company with strong footprints in R&D and innovation, not limited to drones, but extending into other future technologies as well. At the same time, I also see AVPL as a platform where collaboration is always encouraged. For example, if someone is working on a robotics component or a small part of a larger technology, they can come to us, collaborate, and we will help them commercialize it.
We love to take innovation from concept to commercialization, and that is the kind of impact we want AVPL to be known for in the coming decade.
Vaishali Mehta: Can you tell me more about your mission, identifying 100 plus pain points and solving them with drone technology and AI?
Dr Preet Sandhu: Yes, this is something we are actively working on right now. We have started an initiative called Invincible Bharat 5.0, under which we will cover 20 states. In each state, there will be activities bringing together stakeholders from agritech, drone tech, and future technologies on one platform. Through these interactions, we aim to identify both the problems and the solutions, so that we can curate new products, strengthen technologies, and help startups scale their business models.
In deep technology, there is a phase often referred to as the “valley of death.” This is the stage where a product or prototype is created but struggles to reach the market. Our role is to support startups during this critical phase, helping them cross that valley by connecting them with opportunities, building collaborations, and ensuring their innovations are commercialized effectively.
Vaishali Mehta: What has been the most rewarding moment in your entrepreneurship journey so far?
Dr Preet Sandhu: For me, the most rewarding moment has been the transition from working only on training to entering the field of technology. Moving from training programs to developing and deploying drone technology has been a memorable milestone in my journey, and I am truly enjoying it.
Vaishali Mehta: What advice would you like to share with aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly those entering the agritech sector?
Dr Preet Sandhu: My advice is not only for agritech entrepreneurs but for startups in general. Whenever you design a business model or develop a product, it is crucial to test it thoroughly. You should validate it with at least 400-500 people before announcing your startup or seeking funding. Too often, founders rush to say they are working on an idea, but an idea alone, born out of one or two instances, does not guarantee that the market will accept it.
In the early days, entrepreneurs should not be desperate to call themselves “founders.” Instead, they should focus all their energy on validating the business model. Once it is tested and proven in the market, then you can scale it confidently and grow it to the next level.
Vaishali Mehta: How will India’s semiconductor push impact agritech adoption, like drones, and make it more affordable, accessible, and climate smart for farmers?
Dr Preet Sandhu: When we talk about semiconductors, it is important to understand that the “brain” of every drone is essentially a chip. Without semiconductors, advanced drone technology cannot exist. Right now, chip level production in India is still at a very nascent stage, which means that most of the critical components required to build drones have to be imported. This adds both cost and dependency, making the overall technology more expensive.
As India strengthens its semiconductor ecosystem, this will change significantly. Once chips are manufactured within the country, drones will immediately become more affordable because companies like ours will no longer have to rely on external imports. Lowering costs will make the technology far more accessible to farmers, particularly in rural India, where affordability is always a deciding factor.
But beyond affordability, semiconductors also open up opportunities for innovation. With access to advanced chip-level manufacturing, we will be able to design drones that go far beyond spraying applications. Drones can evolve into multipurpose tools that support a range of agricultural needs, from soil health monitoring to precision farming and even addressing climate related challenges. This will help make farming more climate smart and sustainable.
In the long run, I envision drones becoming as common and indispensable as tractors or irrigation systems. Once supported by a strong semiconductor base in India, drones will not just be seen as advanced technology, but as an everyday farm input accessible to farmers across the country.