Odys Aviation Raises $26 Million to Advance Hybrid-Electric VTOL Flight Testing

Odys Aviation (Long Beach, CA) has closed a $26 million Series A funding round to accelerate development and flight testing of its hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, known as Laila, as the company prepares for a global operational launch in early 2026.

The round was led by Nova Threshold, with participation from Tuchen Ventures LLC & The Eden8 Foundation (Mike Tuchen) and other investors. The funding will support U.S. flight testing, team expansion, and preparations for the company’s first customer proof-of-concept programs, which will demonstrate Odys’s aircraft and ecosystem in real-world environments.

Odys’s Laila aircraft is designed for dual-use applications across cargo, defense, and eventually passenger transport, combining hybrid-electric propulsion, extended range, high payload capacity, and autonomous flight capabilities. The company has already completed successful tests of its propulsion system and achieved key certification milestones under the Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems (JARUS) framework.

Founded in 2022, Odys Aviation is led by engineers and strategists from SpaceX, Gulfstream, Airbus, Tesla, and the U.S. Department of Defense. 

Beyond aircraft design, the company is developing the infrastructure and regulatory frameworks needed to integrate advanced air mobility into existing airspace.

“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.” said Andy Apple, VP of Strategy at Odys.

Odys has secured 14 defense contracts totaling over $11 million and maintains over $11 billion in signed letters of intent with commercial and government partners. The company’s upcoming flight campaigns will serve as the first end-to-end demonstrations of a scalable dual-use VTOL system, linking civil and defense applications under a unified operational model.

Image Credits: Odys Aviation