Funding will support strategic team expansion and U.S. flight testing ahead of Customer Proof of Concept operations in early 2026
Odys Aviation, a dual-use aviation company building hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, today announced the closing of its $26M Series A funding round. Led by Nova Threshold and with investment from Tuchen Ventures and key insiders, the capital will be used to accelerate U.S. full-scale aircraft flight testing of its Laila aircraft and to expand the team as the company prepares for its first international global launch operations, launching in Q1 2026.
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Odys Aviation Aircraft: (left) Laila and (right) Alta
Building on major technical milestones achieved in 2024 and 2025, Odys is entering the next phase of execution, proving that advanced air mobility is not just about aircraft in isolation, but about building the operational ecosystem that will connect regions, economies and ultimately communities in entirely new ways.
“This funding marks a critical inflection point for Odys,” said James Dorris, CEO of Odys Aviation. “We’ve already proven the technology and performance potential of hybrid-electric VTOL. Now, our focus shifts to scaling operations, bringing together the right people, systems and partners to demonstrate what a full AAM ecosystem looks like in practice, not theory.”
"Odys is positioned to meet strong customer demand for longer-range, high-efficiency regional mobility,” said Justin Hamilton, Managing Director of Nova Threshold. “Their innovative aircraft and hybrid-electric propulsion system have demonstrated outstanding performance and reliability. By targeting unmanned cargo and defense applications within existing U.S. and international regulations, Odys is creating a faster, more credible path to market readiness and long-term profitability, setting the stage for future manned operations.”
The Series A follows successful integration and testing of Odys Aviation’s hybrid propulsion system and the completion of key design and certification milestones under the JARUS/SORA 2.5 framework. The company’s ongoing U.S. flight test campaign will validate full-scale flight performance and autonomy systems, laying the foundation for a seamless transition to commercial demonstration in Q1 of 2026.
Odys Aviation’s global Proof of Concept programs will represent the world’s first end-to-end operational demonstrations of a dual-use VTOL system, linking civil, commercial, and defense applications in a single scalable model. The project will showcase how the company’s hybrid architecture enables both sustainable and practical deployment at long range and high payload capacity, bridging the gap between conventional aviation and emerging AAM services. These programs will build on the company’s already-proven track record with the United States Department of Defense, helping to support gaps in UAV availability, affordability and scalability with 14 awarded contracts across three branches awarded to date valued at over $11M.
“What sets Odys apart is our ability to execute beyond a single aircraft or flight,” said Andy Apple, VP of Strategy for Odys Aviation. “We’re developing the infrastructure, autonomy and operational frameworks needed to integrate AAM into real-world airspace and regulatory environments. This funding ensures we can deliver on that vision for our customers and partners.”
With this new capital, Odys will make strategic hires across engineering, certification, and operations, expanding its U.S. and international presence as it scales. The company continues to attract interest from both commercial airlines and government partners seeking sustainable long- range connectivity and dual-use logistics capabilities.
About Odys Aviation
Odys Aviation designs, develops and manufactures long-range, technologically advanced dual-use VTOL aircraft that solve global challenges across defense, logistics, and passenger travel. The company is pioneering the next generation of VTOL aircraft which use hybrid-electric propulsion systems to deliver the optimal balance between range and payload.
Based in Long Beach, CA, Odys Aviation was founded in 2022 and is led by seasoned engineers and strategists from SpaceX, Gulfstream, Airbus, Tesla and the U.S. Department of Defense. The company has secured $11B+ in signed LOIs to date. Visit www.odysaviation.com for more information.
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Funding will support strategic team expansion and U.S. flight testing ahead of Customer Proof of Concept operations in early 2026.
Contacts
Media Contact: Louise@odysaviation.com