Dexa
"Delivery at the Speed of Now"
Ohio drone-delivery carrier; builds its own DE-2020 and Quadra aircraft and flies them under FAA Part 135 for Kroger, Papa Johns and Grubhub.
Dexa, a Dayton, Ohio drone delivery company, builds its own aircraft and flies them as a certificated air carrier for retailers and restaurants. Formerly Drone Express (DEXA), it grew out of TELEGRID Technologies, a 1984 defence communications contractor founded by CEO Beth Flippo's parents, spinning off as a separate aviation logistics company after Kroger became anchor customer in 2021. Flippo, previously CTO of both, designed the aircraft's autonomous in-flight decision-making.
The Telegrid DE-2020 v5, an electric hexacopter in a "flat-six" layout, has parachute recovery, 4G LTE AeroGRID+ mesh, 900 MHz radio links and one-to-many pilot oversight; Dexa rates it at 40 mph maximum cruise, 4 lb capacity and 6 miles flight distance. Quadra, a quadcopter successor: 70 mph, 15 lb, 10 miles round trip, also parachute-equipped. Components come from the US or allied countries; final assembly is in downtown Dayton. The DE-2020 is on the US Secretary of Transportation's S-1 list.
Dexa holds an FAA Part 135 air carrier certificate (reported October 2025) and a nationwide BVLOS waiver, and claims to be one of only four US companies that both build and operate delivery drones under full FAA approval. Flights follow pre-planned routes at 325 ft AGL, normally by day under VFR. Customers and pilots: Kroger (Centerville, Ohio), Papa Johns, Winsupply, and a Grubhub/Wonder restaurant pilot in Green Brook, New Jersey, from March 2026. Businesses pay per dispatch or by subscription, or pass the fee on. It also cites low-altitude airspace defence work, without details.
A $15 million oversubscribed seed round closed in September 2025, after three stages since 2021, led by G2A Investment Partners with Venture 53 and Tech Square Ventures. DroneXL reported 25 staff, a 30-aircraft fleet and Series A plans in October 2025. Fast Company named Dexa a "Next Big Thing in Tech" in 2024.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
Telegrid DE-2020 v5
FAA-certified electric delivery hexacopter that Dexa designs, assembles in Dayton and flies on its own network.
Quadra
Quadcopter successor to the DE-2020 with greater payload and range for commercial delivery.
Dexa drone delivery network
Fully managed drone delivery service for restaurants, retailers, grocers and pharmacies, flown by Dexa.
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Contact Dexa
WEBSITE
https://flydexa.com/PHONE
+1 513-577-5152HEADQUARTERS
United States
Company Facts
Founded
2021
Primary Role
Manufacturer
Company Size
employees 10-50
Primary Region
North America
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
Early-Stage VC
Funding Total
$ 15,000,000
Certifications & Memberships
