Outbound Aero
Next-generation aircraft manufacturing using 3D printing technology.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | €0.0 | round | |
| investor | €0.0 | round | |
* | $1.2m | Seed | |
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
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Outbound Aero, founded in 2023 and based in Seattle, Washington, is developing next-generation aircraft by leveraging advanced manufacturing processes like 3D printing. The company aims to address the high costs and production inefficiencies prevalent in the aviation industry by significantly reducing the expense and time required to build, fly, and maintain aircraft. Their strategy involves a rapid, vertically integrated iteration cycle for design, production, and testing, which is projected to make their engineering cycles 12 times faster than traditional methods.
The company was co-founded by CEO Ian Lee and CTO Jake Armenta, who met as engineering students at Missouri University of Science and Technology. Armenta brings experience from aerospace leaders like Boeing and Relativity Space, where he worked on projects including the 777X and 3D-printed rockets. This background influenced the company's focus on applying disruptive technologies from the space industry to aircraft manufacturing. Lee's background includes work in medical devices, product engineering, and sales.
Outbound Aero's business model is B2B, targeting the sale of aircraft to airlines and other operators. Their long-term goal is the 'Olympic' airliner, a blended-wing body aircraft designed to consume 50% less fuel and increase airline margins. To achieve this, the company is starting with smaller-scale projects, including a luxury business jet and an autonomous UAS called 'Gateway' designed for cargo and ISR missions. A one-eighth-scale demonstrator prototype, named STeVE, has already completed a successful test flight. The company has secured pre-seed funding from investors including Antler and Blue Collective, raising over $1.1 million to finance the development of its prototypes.
Keywords: aircraft manufacturing, 3D printing, aerospace, blended-wing body, aviation technology, deep tech, frontier tech, sustainable aviation, aircraft design, rapid prototyping, advanced manufacturing, carbon fiber, UAS, autonomous logistics, airline efficiency, venture capital, Seattle startup, Ian Lee, Jake Armenta, Olympic airliner, Gateway UAS