{"id":"8bd996d7-21ca-4238-8071-99f56f9e6813","name":"Grid Aero","slug":"grid-aero","description":"Grid Aero is a San Leandro-based aerospace startup building [Lifter-Lite](/models/lifter-lite), a low-cost autonomous cargo aircraft designed to carry 2,000–10,000 lbs over thousands of miles in contested environments. Founded in 2024 by a team of aerospace veterans, the company pairs simple, attritable airframes with autonomous software to enable distributed airlift for military, humanitarian, and remote commercial logistics — a 'flying pickup truck' aimed at Pacific-theater contested logistics and austere operations where traditional platforms like the C-130 are too expensive and vulnerable.","status":"private","founded":2024,"hq":"San Leandro, California, USA","hqLat":37.7249296,"hqLng":-122.1560768,"hqGeocodedAt":"2026-08-05T14:31:29.808Z","hqAddress":null,"hqPrecision":null,"website":"https://www.grid.aero/","fundingTotal":"26000000","type":"both","roles":["robot_maker"],"reviewStatus":"reviewed","heatIndex":79,"lifecycleState":"active","supersededByCompanyId":null,"sources":[{"url":"https://www.axios.com/2026/01/26/grid-aero-series-a-cargo-drone","date":"2026-01-26","title":"Exclusive: Grid Aero eyes additional airlift following $20 million raise","sourceName":"Axios"},{"url":"https://aeromorning.com/en/aerospace-defense-startup-grid-aero-raises-20m-series-a/","date":"2026-01-27","title":"Aerospace & Defense Startup Grid Aero Raises $20M Series A","sourceName":"AeroMorning"}],"keyFacts":[{"label":"Funding (reported, unconfirmed)","value":"$26M: $6M seed in Aug 2025 and $20M Series A in Jan 2026."},{"label":"CEO (reported, unconfirmed)","value":"Co-founder Arthur Dubois, ex-Joby and Xwing."},{"label":"Co-founders (reported, unconfirmed)","value":"CTO Chinmay Patel, test pilot Alex Kroll and CCO Brandon Florian."},{"label":"FAA certificate (reported, Jul 2025)","value":"Special Airworthiness Certificate for the Lifter Lite."},{"label":"Air Force (reported, unconfirmed)","value":"Direct to Phase II AFWERX SBIR of about $1.2M."},{"label":"Cargo (company-claimed)","value":"2,000 to 10,000 lb over thousands of miles on a diesel powertrain."},{"label":"Partners (reported, unconfirmed)","value":"Everts Air LOI for Alaska cargo, A2G International and Aviation Without Borders."}],"aliases":[],"collisionRisk":"low","reviewNote":null,"atsProvider":null,"atsSlug":null,"factoryLocations":null,"manufacturingCapacity":null,"orgType":null,"burnSignal":null,"litigationEvents":null,"insurancePostureDisclosed":null,"unitEconomicsDisclosed":null,"tickerSymbol":null,"stockExchange":null,"secCik":null,"revenueUsd":null,"revenueBasis":null,"revenueAsOf":null,"employeeCount":null,"employeeCountBasis":null,"employeeCountAsOf":null,"marketCapUsd":null,"marketCapAsOf":null,"marketCapSource":null,"createdAt":"2026-07-25T20:05:50.212Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-12T22:10:50.817Z","jsonLd":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Organization","@id":"https://registry.deploy.report/companies/grid-aero","url":"https://registry.deploy.report/companies/grid-aero","name":"Grid Aero","description":"Grid Aero is a San Leandro-based aerospace startup building [Lifter-Lite](/models/lifter-lite), a low-cost autonomous cargo aircraft designed to carry 2,000–10,000 lbs over thousands of miles in contested environments. Founded in 2024 by a team of aerospace veterans, the company pairs simple, attritable airframes with autonomous software to enable distributed airlift for military, humanitarian, and remote commercial logistics — a 'flying pickup truck' aimed at Pacific-theater contested logistics and austere operations where traditional platforms like the C-130 are too expensive and vulnerable.","identifier":"8bd996d7-21ca-4238-8071-99f56f9e6813","foundingDate":"2024","address":"San Leandro, California, USA","publisher":{"@id":"https://deploy.report/#organization"}},"framework_metadata":{"framework_schema_version":"0.1.0","verification_status":"verified","maturity_stage":null,"lifecycle_state":null,"architectural_position":{"cohort":null,"sub_cohorts":[]},"within_cohort_verified_vs_claimed_pair":null,"cap_flags":[],"verification_depth":{"sources_count":2,"primary_source_types":["secondary-industry-publication"]}}}