California-based aviation technology company Skyryse has raised more than $300 million in a Series C funding round, pushing its valuation above $1 billion and officially making it an aviation unicorn.
The round was 2x oversubscribed and led by Autopilot Ventures along with returning investor Fidelity Management & Research Company. Several new and existing investors also joined, including Qatar Investment Authority, ArrowMark Partners, Atreides Management, Baron Capital Group, and Durable Capital Partners.
With this round, Skyryse has now raised over $605 million in total funding.
What is Skyryse building?
Founded in 2016 by Mark Groden, Skyryse is one of the few aviation technology companies to reach a $1 billion valuation while remaining privately held and founder-led. Its technology is designed for both civilian and defence use, a combination that has helped attract long-term investors.
Skyryse develops SkyOS, a universal operating system designed to replace complex mechanical flight controls with a simplified, software-driven system. Instead of traditional controls, pilots use a single control stick and touchscreens, making aircraft easier to fly during normal operations, bad weather, and emergencies.
The company says SkyOS is designed to work across different aircraft types, including helicopters and aeroplanes, with a strong focus on improving flight safety.
The US company says it has already secured partnerships across every major aviation sector, including the U.S. military, emergency medical services, law enforcement, firefighting agencies, private aviation operators, and international customers.
The company began testing SkyOS on helicopters first, which are harder to fly and less stable than aeroplanes. That approach paid off. After just 91 days of integration, Skyryse successfully flew SkyOS on a Black Hawk helicopter, completing automated pickup, hover, and landing manoeuvres with a single touch.
The system has also been flown on aeroplanes, including the Cirrus SR22, one of the best-selling piston aircraft globally.
Skyryse has already achieved several industry milestones using SkyOS, including automated takeoff and landing with a single touch, fully automated hover, and automated engine-out landing.
What’s next?
The new capital will be used primarily to complete FAA certification for SkyOS and to expand its deployment across more aircraft.
In 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration granted final design approval for SkyOS’ flight control computers. The system is now undergoing for-credit flight testing, one of the final steps before full certification.
Skyryse is also preparing to scale SkyOS across major aircraft fleets, including the Black Hawk helicopter, one of the most widely used helicopters in the world.
