Mangaluru-based Zupple Labs Secures DRDO Mandate for Blockchain Security Standards

Mangaluru-based startup Zupple Labs Pvt Ltd has been awarded a project mandate by the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Technology Development Fund (TDF) programme. The project, titled 'Security Analysis and Auditing of Blockchain', will have DRDO’s Scientific Analysis Group acting as the nodal laboratory.

The initiative aims to contribute to the standardisation and evaluation of blockchain technologies specifically required for defence applications. The formal handover of the project mandate took place between Nidhi Bansal, Outstanding Scientist and Director of TDF at DRDO, and Neil Kevin Martis, CEO and Co-Founder of Zupple Labs.

Speaking on the context of the project, Neil Kevin Martis noted that while the defence sector could adopt blockchain for various use cases in the coming years, a standard evaluation framework currently does not exist. As an example, he pointed out that defence forces would require secure blockchain-based applications to track supply-chain items across the country, a requirement that conventional digital systems may not fully meet.

Government agencies cannot operate on public blockchains and instead rely on private blockchains, which function as customisable internal systems. However, before such systems can be commissioned by defence forces, they must undergo a series of standard tests. The newly awarded project aims to build a standardised platform to grade defence-grade blockchain applications.

Zupple Labs specialises in building blockchain-powered trust infrastructure for governments and institutions across four countries, securing and authenticating critical citizen records such as land records, educational credentials, identities, permits, and work orders.

Reacting to the development, Capt Brijesh Chowta, Member of Parliament from Dakshina Kannada, congratulated the startup. He highlighted that Zupple Labs is one of the 10 startups in this year’s 'Bolpu' cohort, a one-year accelerator programme designed to empower early-stage ventures based in Mangaluru by offering funding, mentorship, and market access support.

"Securing a project mandate from the DRDO is a significant validation for an early-stage startup like Zupple Labs. As critical sectors like defense increasingly look toward emerging technologies, the need for robust evaluation frameworks and internal security standards becomes paramount. This development highlights the growing capability of regional Indian startups to contribute directly to national security infrastructure and institutional trust systems." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes