About Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech sector in United States
The Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech sector in United States comprises 5.44K companies, including 1.47K funded companies having collectively raised $95.9B in venture capital money and private equity. Out of these, 929 are Series A+ funded, and 32 have achieved unicorn status.
Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech sector in United States has seen 513 acquisitions and 84 IPOs. This represents almost 11.0% of all such companies - which is higher than the 4.5% exit rate of tech companies in general.
This sector includes companies engaged in the technology-enabled manufacturing, sales, and management of aircraft, spacecraft, ships, and defense equipment.
Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech sector is also known as Aerospace & Defense Tech, Aerospace or Maritime and Defence Tech.
It includes companies manufacturing advanced aircraft, spacecraft, ships and military equipment. It also includes companies that provide software solutions to aircraft, spacecraft, ship manufacturers and sellers as well as to the defense industry. It also includes companies providing them with tech heavy hardware and advanced materials. It excludes defense contractors and traditional aircraft and ship manufacturers. It also excludes companies providing services to the aerospace, maritime and defense industry stakeholders.
Top Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech Companies in United States
There are 5,438 Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech startups in United States which include Palantir, SpaceX, Planet, Ehang, Surf Air. Out of these, 1,470 startups are funded, with 929 having secured Series A+ funding, and 32 achieving unicorn status.
2026 has seen the creation of 84 Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech startups in United States. Over the past 10 years, an average of 206 new companies have been launched annually. Notably, several of these startups have been founded by alumni of Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University.
Here is the list of top Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech startups in United States
1. Palantir
Platform that provides data analysis and management solutions. It is a software company that specializes in big data analytics and provides software platforms for analyzing and integrating large amounts of data. Its software powers real-time, AI-driven decisions in critical government and commercial enterprise, from the factory floors to the front lines.
Key facts about Palantir
- Founded Year: 2003
- Location: Denver (United States)
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $2.46B
- Investors: Founders Fund, Sompo Holdings and 167 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, Aug 31, 2023, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 84/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 2,743 Competitors
2. SpaceX
Provider of advanced aerospace and space transportation services. It delivers advanced launch services using reusable rocket systems designed to transport crew and cargo for missions to orbit, the Moon, Mars, and deep space exploration. It also develops and operates large-scale satellite networks that provide high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity across the globe, including remote and underserved regions. It supports human spaceflight programs aimed at expanding long-duration space exploration and increasing access to space for both commercial and governmental missions.
Key facts about SpaceX
- Founded Year: 2002
- Location: Hawthorne (United States)
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $11.9B
- Investors: Fidelity Investments, Jetstream Venture Fund and 263 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series J, Mar 17, 2026, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 81/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 9 Competitors
3. Planet
Provider of daily satellite imagery and geospatial data analytics services. The organization offers high-frequency imagery, mosaics, on-demand tasking, and analytic feeds. It transforms imagery into insights, providing data for monitoring, change detection, and analysis. The company delivers data products and cloud-based tools, offering solutions across various industries.
Key facts about Planet
- Founded Year: 2010
- Location: San Francisco (United States)
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $602M
- Investors: EDBI, DCVC and 54 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, Sep 12, 2025, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 81/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 393 Competitors
4. Ehang
Developer of autonomous aerial vehicles and related command and control systems. It focuses on providing solutions for aerial transportation and related applications. The company designs, develops, manufactures, and operates these systems. It also offers services related to the operation and maintenance of its products.
Key facts about Ehang
- Founded Year: 2014
- Location: Guangzhou (China)
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $52M
- Investors: GP Capital, Granite Asia and 13 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, Nov 14, 2024, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 76/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 281 Competitors
5. Surf Air
Platform offering providing private arline services. It offers first-class travel on executive aircraft. It works as a supscription based model where a member can subscribe to unlimited flights.
Key facts about Surf Air
- Founded Year: 2012
- Location: Santa Monica (United States)
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $24.8M
- Investors: Anthem Venture Partners, Base Ventures and 27 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Post IPO, Nov 10, 2025, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 75/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 86 Competitors
Companies founded year-on-year in the Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech sector in United States
84 new startups have been founded so far in 2026 in the Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech sector in United States. 308 Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech startups in United States were founded in 2019 - this is the most number of startups founded in any year in the last 10 years.
- Total Number of Companies
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | 84 |
2025 | 62 |
2024 | 143 |
2023 | 140 |
2022 | 182 |
2021 | 278 |
2020 | 296 |
2019 | 308 |
2018 | 292 |
2017 | 281 |
Stage-wise distribution of Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech sector companies in United States
Out of the total 5,438 Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies in United States, 1,470 have secured funding. Among them, 929 have reached Series A or higher, and 774 to Series B or beyond.
Founded - 5,438
Funded - 1,470
Series A+ - 929
Series B+ - 774
Series C+ - 666
Company Stage | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Founded | 5,438 |
Funded | 1,470 |
Series A+ | 929 |
Series B+ | 774 |
Series C+ | 666 |
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Funding Trends in the Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech sector in United States
Total funding year-on-year in the Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech sector in United States
The Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech sector in United States saw a total funding of more than $82.7B in the last 10 years. The most amount of funding has been in 2026 at more than $16.7B till date.
- Total Funding
Year | Total Funding |
|---|---|
2026 | $16.7B |
2025 | $16.6B |
2024 | $8.35B |
2023 | $5.33B |
2022 | $10.5B |
2021 | $9.62B |
2020 | $6.24B |
2019 | $4.12B |
2018 | $3.48B |
2017 | $1.82B |
Recent Funding Rounds in Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech in United States
In the year 2026, till July 2026, Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies in United States have raised $15.7B in equity funding across 123 rounds.
In the same period last year (i.e. till July 2025), Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies in United States had raised $9.83B across 118 rounds.
So, 2026 has seen a 59.35% rise in funding in Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies in United States as compared to 2025.
Here are some recent, important funding rounds in Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies in United States:
Company | Round Raised | Amount Raised | Funding Date | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Series B | 5759 | Jul 28, 2026 | ||
Seed | 8087 | Jul 20, 2026 | ||
Seed | 4870 | Jul 15, 2026 | ||
Series D | 8905 | Jul 14, 2026 | ||
Seed | 4009 | Jul 09, 2026 | and 4 more |
Top Investors in Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech in United States
OSTI is the top investor in Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies in United States based on number of companies invested.
Here are some top investors in Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies in United States:
Investor | Location | Top Portfolio Companies |
|---|---|---|
Oak Ridge (United States) | ||
Mountain View (United States) | ||
New York City (United States) | ||
Arlington (United States) |
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M&A activity in Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech sector in United States
In the year 2026, till July 2026, 25 acquisitions happened in Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech sector in United States. Last year, in 2025, a total of 34 acquisitions happened in Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech sector in United States.
Here are some recent, important acquisitions in Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech sector in United States:
Company | Acquisition Type | Acquisition Date | Acquirers |
|---|---|---|---|
Business Acquisition | Jul 30, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Jul 07, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Jul 06, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Jun 19, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Jun 04, 2026 |
Acquisition trends in Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech sector in United States
Here are the acquisition trends in Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech sector in United States:
- Total Number of Acquisitions
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | 25 |
2025 | 34 |
2024 | 45 |
2023 | 46 |
2022 | 41 |
2021 | 59 |
2020 | 56 |
2019 | 35 |
2018 | 36 |
2017 | 32 |
IPOs in Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech in United States
In the year 2026, till June 2026, 8 IPOs happened in Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech sector in United States.
Here are some recent, important IPOs in Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech sector in United States:
Company | IPO Date | Exchange Symbol |
|---|---|---|
Jun 12, 2026 | National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) | |
May 15, 2026 | National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) | |
May 07, 2026 | New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) | |
Apr 22, 2026 | National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) | |
Apr 17, 2026 | New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) |
Colleges which produce the most Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies in United States
Companies founded by alumni from top colleges in the Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech in United States
Most number of Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech startups in United States have been founded by alumni from Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University.
College | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Stanford University | 80 |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 66 |
Harvard University | 28 |
University of California (Berkeley) | 28 |
University of California (Los Angeles) | 19 |
Carnegie Mellon University | 18 |
Cornell University | 14 |
University of Pennsylvania | 14 |
Yale University | 14 |
Harvard Business School | 13 |
Total funding in Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies founded by alumni from top colleges in United States
In the last 10 years, Cornell University graduates' Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies in United States have raised the most funding among top colleges. Stanford University alumni are second, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni are third.
College | Total Funding |
|---|---|
Cornell University | $11.6B |
Stanford University | $10.4B |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $9.77B |
Harvard University | $5.68B |
Yale University | $3B |
University of Pennsylvania | $2.89B |
Wharton School | $2.59B |
University of California (Berkeley) | $1.69B |
Harvard Business School | $1.65B |
University of Oxford | $1.33B |
Top News in Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech in United States
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JETNET Launches JIQ, a Unified Market Intelligence Platform for Business AviationPR Newswire•Jul 20, 2026•JETNET
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Quantum Aero Selected for K-Defense Startup Incubation Program to Develop Korean Autonomous Flight SDKKorea Newswire•Jul 15, 2026•Quantum
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Boats Group Appoints Alisdair Martin and Freya Olsen to Leadership Roles in Industry RelationsPR Newswire•Jul 15, 2026•Boats
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Quantum Aero and Konyang University Collaborate on Advanced Drone Autonomy TechnologyKorea Newswire•Jul 02, 2026•Quantum, ac.kr
