Three graduating students from Rice University have successfully secured $1.85 million in pre-seed funding for their innovative healthcare startup, Haast Autonomous. Ege Halac, Jason Chen, and Santiago Brent, who began this venture as a university capstone project, are developing autonomous drones designed to expedite the transport of critical medical supplies between hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Addressing Urgent Healthcare Logistics
The inspiration for Haast Autonomous stemmed from the founders' research into existing medical transport methods. They identified a significant challenge: many hospitals still depend on conventional road transport for essential items like blood samples, medicines, laboratory specimens, and emergency medical supplies. This reliance often leads to critical delays, particularly for smaller hospitals and rural healthcare centers, due to traffic congestion, long distances, and inadequate infrastructure.
Recognizing that these delays directly impact patient care, the trio shifted their focus from general consumer deliveries to creating a specialized solution for one of healthcare’s most time-sensitive logistical problems: the rapid and safe movement of life-critical cargo.
Haast Autonomous: Speed and Precision
Co-founder Jason Chen explained the project's origins: “We all knew we wanted to build something together, so in September 2025, we decided to sponsor a capstone design project.” As engineering students, they saw a clear opportunity to integrate aviation technology, sophisticated software systems, and pressing healthcare needs into a single, cohesive solution.
The startup's name, "Haast," is derived from the Dutch word for "haste," aptly reflecting the urgency required in medical emergencies. Haast Autonomous has engineered a drone capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), allowing it to operate efficiently from existing hospital infrastructure. This advanced aircraft can cover distances up to 62 miles, transporting sensitive cargo within a specially designed compartment that meticulously maintains optimal temperature, pressure, and stability.
Ege Halac emphasized the core motivation: “We need better alternatives for a fast, safe and on-demand system of transport for life-critical cargo.” The founders are confident that their technology will enable hospitals to receive urgent supplies more quickly and facilitate the swift transport of patient samples for testing, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
“With our system, you can transport biological samples from an outlying satellite hospital to the central facility for further testing while also providing critical supplies where they are needed faster, improving patient outcomes,” Halac stated.
Future Outlook: Pilot Programs and Network Expansion
The compelling mission of Haast Autonomous has already garnered significant investor confidence, leading to the successful $1.85 million funding round. The team has ambitious plans to initiate pilot programs in 2027. Their long-term vision involves establishing a comprehensive network that will make medical logistics faster, more reliable, and more accessible across diverse healthcare settings.