What is Hermeus?
Hermeus is a high-speed aircraft manufacturer dedicated to the rapid design, build, and testing of high-Mach and hypersonic aircraft for the national interest. By collaborating with the Department of War, the company provides capabilities that ensure the United States and its allies maintain a strategic advantage over potential adversaries. The company's product lineup includes the Quarterhorse, a rapidly reusable high-speed aircraft, and Darkhorse, a multi-mission reusable hypersonic uncrewed aerial system. Their innovative hybrid engine technology enables aircraft to take off, break the sound barrier, and reach hypersonic speeds, placing them at the forefront of the aerospace and defense sector.
How much funding has Hermeus raised?
Hermeus has raised a total of $527M across 4 funding rounds:
Series A
$17M
Grant
$60M
Series B
$100M
Series C
$350M
Series A (2020): $17M with participation from Sequoia Capital Operations LLC
Grant (2021): $60M led by US Air Force Recruiting
Series B (2022): $100M supported by In-Q-Tel, Sam Altman, and Founders Fund
Series C (2026): $350M featuring Cox Enterprises, Founders Fund, Silicon Valley Bank, Bling Capital, Georgia Tech Alumni Association, Destiny (D/XYZ, 137 Ventures, Khosla Ventures, RTX, Canaan Partners, and In-Q-Tel
Key Investors in Hermeus
Founders Fund
Founders Fund invests in the world's most important and valuable companies across all geographies, sectors and stages, with a history of backing transformative aerospace and defense firms.
Khosla Ventures
Khosla Ventures provides venture assistance and strategic advice to entrepreneurs working on breakthrough technologies, focusing on areas including robotics and sustainable energy.
In-Q-Tel
In-Q-Tel is a strategic investment firm that acts as the U.S. national security community's venture arm, identifying early-stage commercial technology companies to deliver advanced capabilities.
What's next for Hermeus?
With the successful closure of this major strategic investment, Hermeus is poised to transition from prototype development to full-scale operational deployment. The capital will likely be directed toward scaling manufacturing infrastructure and refining the hybrid engine technology that powers its hypersonic fleet. As the company continues to align with national security objectives, the focus will shift toward flight testing and the integration of its uncrewed aerial systems into existing defense frameworks. This phase of growth is critical for establishing Hermeus as a primary contractor in the next generation of high-speed aerospace engineering.
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