Exosonic, a Startup in Supersonic Air Travel and UAV Tech, Announces Shutdown
Exosonic, a startup focused on developing supersonic commercial air travel and UAV technology, has announced that it is winding down operations after five years of operation. The company cited a lack of customer support as the main reason for its inability to continue operations.
The founders and team at Exosonic still believe in the need for quiet supersonic flight and supersonic drones, particularly for the US Department of Defense. However, without sufficient customer support for either concept, the company cannot sustain the financial resources needed to make further advancements.
Founded in 2019 by Norris Tie, a propulsion engineer with experience at major aerospace companies like Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, Exosonic had made significant progress in its development. The startup participated in Y Combinator’s Winter 2020 cohort and raised over $4.5 million from venture investors, including Soma Capital, Psion Capital, and Stellar Solutions. Additionally, Exosonic received grants from the U.S. Air Force under its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.
Earlier this year, Exosonic achieved a major milestone by conducting a test flight of its first aircraft, a subscale version of its supersonic UAV called EX-3M Trident, in California. The company was also working on two other vehicles: a supersonic airliner named Horizon and a larger UAV known as Revenant.
Despite its progress, Exosonic faced challenges in bridging the gap between research and development and commercialization, commonly referred to as “the valley of death” in defense technology. This hurdle is a well-known issue for companies looking to sell to the Department of Defense, and securing further government support was crucial for Exosonic’s near-term supersonic UAV development.
Exosonic’s inability to secure the necessary support ultimately led to its decision to wind down operations. The company highlighted the importance of government backing in advancing its concepts but acknowledged that without it, sustaining the required capital was no longer feasible.
As JS reached out to Norris Tie for comment, the future of Exosonic and its innovative supersonic technologies remains uncertain.
