Reliable Robotics Extends Series D With $115M, Valuation Passes $1B
Reliable Robotics raised $115 million, expanding its Series D to $275 million and pushing its valuation above $1 billion. The round included $90 million in equity and a $25 million term loan from Silicon Valley Bank, with Nimble Partners leading. The company is developing retrofit autonomous flight systems for existing aircraft and plans to expand its fleet, production, and engineering teams.
Reliable Robotics, based in Mountain View, was founded by former SpaceX engineers Robert Rose and Juerg Frefel. Its expanded Series D now totals $275 million, with $90 million in equity and a $25 million term loan from Silicon Valley Bank. Nimble Partners led; new investors included Gideon Capital, RockCreek, Geek Ventures, Gold Hill Capital, and Sparkwave Capital.
Its Reliable Autonomy System targets the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, automating taxiing, takeoff, navigation, and landing and adding radar-based collision detection. Reliable plans Seattle and San Diego offices and has over 250 employees. It is seeking FAA certification; company estimates place continuous autopilot with a pilot still aboard 18–24 months away and full pilot removal at least three years out.
The funding could accelerate testing of retrofit autonomy for cargo aircraft, potentially affecting regional freight operators, pilots, and communities that depend on small-plane logistics. If certification proceeds, automated systems may change crew roles and operating costs, while safety benefits may depend on rigorous validation and oversight. Military logistics could also see early effects. These outcomes remain uncertain and tied to regulatory approval, public confidence, and real-world performance.