VIRES Aeronautics
Revolutionary aircraft wing technology for enhanced flight performance.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
$1.0m | Seed | ||
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
VIRES Aeronautics was a developer of high-performance unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and revolutionary wing technology. The company was founded in 2013 by Jordan Greene (President), Harshil Goel (CEO), and Zachary Hargreaves (CTO), who met during their studies at UC Berkeley. The founding of the company was spurred by Goel's insight during a summer job in a wind tunnel in India, where he re-derived century-old fluid equations and conceived of a better way to build a wing. He then connected with business major Greene and engineering student Hargreaves to turn the concept into a viable product.
The company's core innovation was the patented VIRES Aquila technology, a form of Active Circulation Control (ACC) that retrofits the wings of existing aircraft. This technology was designed to energize the boundary layer of air around a wing, which significantly improves lift. The benefits included faster takeoffs and landings, increased payload capacity, improved maneuverability, extended flight range, and reduced fuel consumption. The primary market focus was on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), where these performance enhancements could allow the aircraft to better achieve mission objectives in sectors from delivery services to agriculture. However, the founders noted the technology had disruptive potential in other markets, including automobiles, ships, and turbines.
VIRES Aeronautics was backed by venture capital, securing $960,000 in a seed funding round in November 2013 from investors including Draper Associates and Promus Ventures. The company conducted research and development in Berkeley and San Francisco and held flight tests in Southern California. Despite its promising technology and early-stage funding, PitchBook data indicates that VIRES Aeronautics went out of business as of September 25, 2015.
Keywords: Active Circulation Control, aircraft wing design, aeronautics technology, unmanned aircraft systems, UAS performance, improved aircraft lift, reduced fuel consumption, enhanced payload capacity, UAV technology, aerospace engineering, fluid dynamics, flight maneuverability, Jordan Greene, Harshil Goel, Zachary Hargreaves, VIRES Aquila, aircraft retrofit, drone technology, aerodynamic efficiency