In this episode of Coffee with a T-Bird, I sit down with Manuel Coelho—entrepreneur, Thunderbird alum, and founder of Speedbird Aero—to talk about what it really takes to build something from the ground up.

We get into his journey from Brazil to the U.S., how he went from telemedicine to launching a drone logistics company, and what it’s like to actually deploy drone delivery in real cities like New York. This isn’t just theory—this is boots-on-the-ground innovation, dealing with regulations, scaling globally, and figuring things out as you go.

We also talk about the bigger picture—entrepreneurship, global business, and the mindset it takes to operate across cultures. And of course, a little bit of the Thunderbird experience and how it shapes the way you see the world.

If you’re into startups, tech, or just enjoy hearing real stories behind building something meaningful, you’ll get a lot out of this one.

What we cover:

The reality behind drone delivery and autonomous logistics
Building and scaling a global startup
Lessons from working across the U.S., Brazil, Israel, and beyond
Why execution matters more than hype
The Thunderbird mindset

https://www.linkedin.com/in/manoel-r-coelho/

https://www.speedbird.aero/

Manoel Coelho, visionary entrepreneur and CEO of Speedbird Aero, boasts over two decades of dynamic business leadership and a history of guiding start-ups with groundbreaking technologies. A Thunderbird School of Global Management honors graduate, Coelho seamlessly integrates technological innovation with international business strategies.

His career spans key roles in the telemedicine and healthcare industry, marked by leadership in three disruptive technology-focused start-ups. Taking the helm at Speedbird Aero in 2018, Coelho leverages expertise in Drone as a Service, Software as a Service, Artificial Intelligence, and Telemedicine to lead the company's global development.

Under Coelho's leadership, Speedbird Aero pioneers in unmanned aviation, with cutting-edge technologies in electric propulsion, autonomous flight, and sustainable solutions. Beyond his professional impact, Coelho is a respected figure in the unmanned aviation community, advocating for sustainability.

In the ever-evolving unmanned aerospace landscape, Coelho's leadership at Speedbird Aero is defined by an unwavering pursuit of excellence, positioning the company for new heights in this sector.

This podcast is sponsored by Freshwater Investments