Reliable Robotics Raises $115M at Over $1B Valuation to Advance FAA Certification

Reliable Robotics, the autonomous aviation startup founded by former SpaceX engineers, has raised $115 million in an extension of its Series D round, pushing its valuation above $1 billion. The Mountain View, California-based company has now raised $380 million to date, with the Series D round totaling $275 million. The financing includes $90 million in equity led by Nimble Partners and $25 million in debt from Silicon Valley Bank. Other investors include Gideon Strategic Partners, RockCreek, Geek Ventures, Gold Hill Capital and Sparkwave Capital. CEO Robert Rose said the company is inching toward FAA certification of its autonomous flight system on four fronts: continuous autopilot engagement, expected within 18 to 24 months; removing the pilot from the cockpit to a ground-control station, at least three years away; an in-house solid-state collision-avoidance radar, targeted for certification by the end of 2027; and certification of its cargo airline, Reliable Airlines. Nimble Partners founder John Burbank said the system's potential extends beyond a single aircraft, as it can be adopted by any airframe.