Grid Aero Raises $20 Million Series A to Scale Autonomous Airlift Operations

Grid Aero has raised $20 million in Series A funding to expand production and deployment of its autonomous long-range aircraft, announced in a press release. The round was co-led by Bison Ventures and Geodesic Capital, with participation from Stony Lonesome Group, Alumni Ventures, and returning investors Ubiquity Ventures, Calibrate Ventures, and Commonweal Ventures.

The funding will accelerate Grid Aero’s Lifter Lite aircraft from testing to operational use, supporting defense exercises and early customer deployments. The company designs low-cost, rugged uncrewed aircraft capable of carrying thousands of pounds over long distances, optimized for operations in areas with limited infrastructure or contested airspace.

Grid Aero’s technology aligns with recent U.S. Department of Defense priorities, including Contested Logistics, Applied AI, and Scalable Autonomous Systems. Beyond defense, the company is partnering with organizations such as Everts Air and Aviation Without Borders to support humanitarian and remote logistics missions.