Odys Aviation, a dual-use aviation company building hybrid-electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft, has closed its $26M Series A funding round.
Led by Nova Threshold, with participation from Tuchen Ventures and key insiders, the funding will accelerate U.S. full-scale flight testing of the Laila aircraft and support team expansion ahead of the company’s first international launch operations scheduled for Q1 2026.
This financial boost follows the achievement of technical milestones in 2024 and 2025, positioning Odys to move into its next phase of execution. The company stresses that Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) requires building an operational ecosystem to connect regions, economies, and communities, not just developing aircraft in isolation.
The Series A funding comes after the successful integration and testing of the hybrid propulsion system and the completion of key design and certification milestones under the JARUS/SORA 2.5 framework. The ongoing U.S. flight test campaign will validate the full-scale flight performance and autonomy systems, which will lay the groundwork for a transition to commercial demonstration in Q1 of 2026.
James Dorris, CEO of Odys Aviation, commented, “This funding marks a critical inflection point for Odys. 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.”
Justin Hamilton, Managing Director of Nova Threshold, added, “Odys is positioned to meet strong customer demand for longer-range, high-efficiency regional mobility. 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.”
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.
Andy Apple, VP of Strategy for Odys Aviation, said, “What sets Odys apart is our ability to execute beyond a single aircraft or flight. 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.”
The new capital will enable Odys to make strategic hires in engineering, certification, and operations, expanding its U.S. and international presence as it scales. The company continues to draw interest from both commercial airlines and government partners who are seeking sustainable, long-range connectivity and dual-use logistics capabilities.
