Seven students from Rice University in Texas have turned a classroom project into a startup with ambitions to transform healthcare logistics. Their company, Haast Autonomous, has secured $1.85 million in seed funding to develop a drone-based transportation system designed to move critical medical supplies quickly and safely between hospitals.
The team believes that current healthcare networks rely heavily on expensive ground carriers and air transportation, leading to delays in sensitive shipments. Their solution combines custom-built aircraft with software that manages dispatch and tracks deliveries in real time. The founders plan to spend their first year after graduation working full-time on the project, and beta trials are expected to begin in early 2027.
How seven college students built a startup to save their lives
Haast Autonomous was founded by alumni such as Ege Halak, Jason Chen, and Santiago Brent. The trio first developed the idea through Rice University’s Liu Idea Lab, an innovation and entrepreneurship Summer Venture Studio, and later built prototypes in the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen.They were joined by engineering students Felix Hasson, Ethan Javidan, Kenna Sanders, and Caden Schmidt. Together, the seven-member team turned a major design project into a startup focused on mission-critical logistics.
As health care systems become increasingly centralized, many specialty laboratories, blood banks, and diagnostic services are concentrated in fewer locations. However, transportation of biological samples and emergency supplies between facilities still largely relies on expensive ground transportation companies or aircraft.The founders say this creates a need for faster and more reliable transportation. Their platform aims to reduce delays and ensure important materials reach doctors and patients when time is of the essence.
How life saving drone system works
HAST’s aircraft can take off and land vertically, allowing it to operate from existing hospital facilities. Once in the air, it switches to horizontal flight to cover longer distances efficiently.The current prototype can travel between 50 and 62 miles while carrying at least five pounds of cargo. Its payload chamber regulates temperature, pressure, vibration and tilt, making it suitable for transporting patient samples, antivenoms, poisoning kits and specialist treatments.According to co-founder Jason Chen, the drone itself is only one part of the system. Hospitals will be able to order flights, track shipments in real time and keep detailed chain-of-custody records.Behind the scenes, the software manages aircraft availability, flight telemetry, and airspace restrictions. The company eventually plans to operate an entire fleet rather than individual drones.Working out of Rice University’s engineering facilities, the team produced 13 versions of the plane in just 16 weeks.
Using 3D printing technology, they were able to keep the cost of each prototype under $1,000.The founders adopted an approach focused on rapid testing and continuous improvements, allowing them to improve the aircraft design while maintaining affordability.
Awards and growing interest in the industry
The project has already attracted recognition. At the 2026 Oshman Engineering Design Exhibition and Competition, the team was awarded Best Aviation or Transport Technology and placed third in the Wily Revolution Outstanding Innovation Award.Haast also won the Chan-Kang Family Award for Bold Ambition and the Healthcare Innovation Award at the 2026 H. Albert Napier Rice Launch Challenge. Off campus, the startup has spoken with hundreds of potential customers, obtained letters of intent and partnered with Airspace Link to support autonomous flight operations.Bigger ambitions go beyond organ transplantationThe founders initially envisioned transporting transplanted organs, although they soon realized that the technology could address a much broader challenge.
Their platform could ultimately support mission-critical transportation operations across multiple industries.With $1.85 million in new funding, the company plans to launch beta trials in early 2027 before moving toward commercial deployment later that year. The team believes that the combination of aircraft and logistics software could help create one of the fastest and most secure transportation networks for sensitive shipments.