Defense Startup Mach Industries Secures $100M Led by Khosla, Bedrock
▼ Summary
– Mach Industries raised $100 million in funding at a $470 million valuation, with Khosla Ventures and Bedrock Capital leading the round.
– The startup, founded in 2023 by 19-year-old Ethan Thornton, has grown rapidly, increasing its workforce from 20 to 140 employees in the past year.
– Mach has developed three weapons systems: Viper (a jet-powered UAV), Glide (a high-altitude glider), and Stratos (an in-air satellite with sensor capabilities).
– The company secured contracts with the Army Applications Laboratory and plans to build a 115,000-square-foot factory in Huntington Beach, California.
– The new funding will be used to expand manufacturing and develop undisclosed R&D projects, including a new propulsion engine.
Defense technology startup Mach Industries has secured $100 million in fresh funding, with Khosla Ventures and Bedrock Capital leading the investment round. The deal values the company at $470 million, marking steady growth since its $335 million valuation during its Series A in late 2023. Existing backer Sequoia also participated, bringing the company’s total funding to approximately $185 million.
Founded in 2023 by 19-year-old MIT dropout Ethan Thornton, Mach Industries has rapidly expanded from a scrappy startup to a serious player in defense tech. The company’s workforce has grown from just 20 employees to 140 in under a year, reflecting its aggressive scaling strategy.
Mach specializes in next-generation weapons systems, including Viper, a lightweight jet-powered drone capable of vertical takeoff without a runway; Glide, a high-altitude glider designed for precision strikes; and Stratos, an airborne satellite with advanced sensor and communication capabilities. These innovations have already attracted military interest, including a contract with the U.S. Army Applications Laboratory to develop a vertical takeoff cruise missile.
The company is also establishing its first major production facility—a 115,000-square-foot factory in Huntington Beach, California—to support its expanding operations. Thornton describes the journey from assembling office furniture with plywood to overseeing a full-scale manufacturing hub as “equally scrappy, but now with serious momentum.”
Beyond hardware, Mach is positioning itself at the forefront of AI-driven warfare, citing recent conflicts like Ukraine’s drone strikes as evidence of shifting battlefield dynamics. Thornton emphasizes that the company works closely with government agencies, including the Department of Defense and State Department, to ensure its technology aligns with national security priorities.
The latest funding will accelerate production and fuel undisclosed R&D projects, including a new propulsion system still under wraps. While investor enthusiasm appears measured compared to earlier rounds, Mach’s rapid ascent underscores the growing demand for agile, cost-effective defense solutions in an era of geopolitical uncertainty.
(Source: TechCrunch)
