Drone delivery company Zipline is now valued at $21.5 billion

Zipline, a company that delivers goods by drone, just raised $1.5 billion from investors. The new money values the startup at $21.5 billion. At the same time, Walmart is expanding its commercial partnership with Zipline, with about 300 new drone sites.

What changed

Zipline makes drones and the logistics systems that guide them. Logistics means the work of moving items from one place to another. The funding round is large, and it comes as Walmart, one of the biggest retailers in the country, grows its use of the company's service.

A drone site is a location where drones operate for deliveries. The material does not say where the 300 new sites will be, or how quickly they will open.

Who it affects

Walmart shoppers are the most direct group. If the rollout reaches your area, drone delivery may soon be an option near you. Local businesses may also feel it. A big retailer offering fast delivery by air could create new competition for shops that depend on nearby customers.

What is not known yet

• Which towns and states will get the new drone sites
• When the sites will start operating
• What drone delivery will cost customers
• Which products can be delivered by drone

What happens next

Walmart and Zipline have not shared those details in the material available. Shoppers who are curious should watch for announcements from Walmart about their local store. Small business owners may want to follow the rollout and think about how their own delivery options compare.