Reliable Robotics raises $115M and tops $1B valuation

The new funding gives the autonomous flight startup more room as it seeks the first FAA approval for its retrofit flight systems.

Reliable Robotics has raised an additional $115 million, lifting its Series D to $275 million and pushing its valuation above $1 billion as it works toward FAA approval for autonomous flight systems that can be retrofitted onto existing aircraft. The round included $90 million of equity led by Nimble Partners and $25 million of debt from Silicon Valley Bank, bringing the company’s total funding to $380 million. The startup says its first certification target is continuous autopilot engagement, which Rose expects in 18 to 24 months, while the more ambitious step of moving the pilot out of the cockpit is still at least three years away. It is also pursuing certification of a solid-state collision-avoidance radar that Rose expects by the end of 2027, and of Reliable Airlines, its Albuquerque-based cargo operator using six Cessna Caravans.