REGENT Craft has secured $240 million in Series B funding, split equally between equity and debt, in a round co-led by Mare Liberum and AE Ventures. The debt capital was provided by Erebor Bank, a national bank focused on rebuilding America's industrial base. The financing positions the Rhode Island-based company to accelerate manufacturing and meet rising demand across defense and commercial markets.
Funding Details and Strategic Milestones
The Series B brings REGENT's total funding to $340 million and arrives just before several major technical and operational milestones. The company expects to conduct the first human flight of its Viceroy prototype and begin production at its newly completed 255,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. The investment follows a year of progress that included military demonstrations of the autonomous Squire drone and expanded US Marine Corps engagement.
Defense and Commercial Momentum
REGENT reports growing military interest driven by national defense priorities focused on maritime theaters. The company has expanded its US Marine Corps contract for the Viceroy platform and seen increased interest in the autonomous Squire seaglider. On the commercial side, REGENT has built an order book spanning six continents and booked multiple years of manufacturing capacity.
Investor Perspectives
Billy Thalheimer, co-founder and CEO of REGENT, called the investment a critical inflection point as the company moves from development into production. He said the capital will enable REGENT to scale manufacturing, execute key certification milestones, and deliver seagliders to customers. He also highlighted the strength of the lead investors, combining Mare Liberum's maritime expertise with AE Ventures' aerospace leadership.
Strategic Backing Across Maritime and Aerospace
Mare Liberum General Partner Admiral Lorin Selby said operators need new capabilities that deliver greater speed, reach, and flexibility. He described REGENT as a leader in an emerging category with strong technical development and growing engagement with defense customers. Brian Schettler, Partner and Head of AE Ventures, added that REGENT is addressing a critical gap in maritime defense operations.
Investor Lineup and Debt Support
Erebor Bank, co-founded by Palmer Luckey, provided the debt portion of the round as part of a broader commitment to companies rebuilding America's industrial base. New investor DCVC joins the round with a track record of supporting deep technology businesses at the intersection of engineering and national security. Existing investors including Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, Lockheed Martin Ventures, Japan Airlines, and Giant Step Capital also participated, signaling continued confidence in REGENT's long-term vision.
Global Expansion and Manufacturing
The funding supports REGENT's international presence across key commercial and defense markets. The company is deepening its partnership with Abu Dhabi's Strategic Development Fund for early Seaglider operations and future manufacturing expansion in the UAE. REGENT is also working with Balnord in Poland on Baltic Sea defense requirements and with iGrow in Greece on Aegean transportation opportunities.
Origins and Regulatory Approach
REGENT was founded in 2020 by MIT-trained engineers Billy Thalheimer and Mike Klinker after careers at Boeing, Aurora Flight Sciences, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic. The Seaglider operates under maritime law because it flies just above the water and outside controlled airspace. This regulatory strategy allows the company to avoid the lengthy certification processes faced by electric aviation firms.
The new financing reflects strong investor confidence in REGENT's transition toward full-scale production. With fresh capital, a completed manufacturing facility, and growing defense contracts, the company is positioned to validate its technology through flight testing and customer deliveries. The next major test will be the first fully loaded Viceroy flight, which will demonstrate whether REGENT can convert its order book and partnerships into operational results.