Why Vertical Aerospace Just Landed $100M to Get Its eVTOL Flying

Jan de Vries · 2026-08-11

Vertical Aerospace, the Bristol-based company behind the Valo electric air taxi, just announced roughly $100 million in new financing commitments. That's a big vote of confidence for a company trying to do something genuinely hard: get a piloted, four-passenger eVTOL certified and into commercial service. For context, eVTOL stands for electric vertical take-off and landing. Think of a helicopter, but quieter, cleaner, and designed from the ground up to be an air taxi. Vertical has been at this since 2016, and this funding round is all about pushing Valo through the final, grueling stages of certification. ### The Money Breakdown: Three Moves, One Goal This isn't a single check. It's a structured package put together from three different sources, each with its own timeline and conditions. Here's the quick rundown: - **Mudrick Capital Management (up to $40 million):** This comes through an existing convertible note facility. It includes a $5 million draw that's already closed, plus a $35 million accelerated draw planned for August 12, 2026. Keep in mind, this part is non-binding for now, so it's not a done deal until the paperwork is signed. - **Equity Investment ($35 million):** A group of existing and new investors are buying units (one share plus one warrant) at $1.05 per unit. This offering is expected to close around August 11. - **Yorkville Advisors Global ($25 million):** This is an issuance from a preferred equity facility that settled on August 10. Stuart Simpson, Vertical's CEO, put it simply: this financing gives the company the "near-term flexibility" to execute its next phase. And that next phase is packed. ### What This Funding Actually Buys Money in the bank is nice, but what really matters is what it's for. Vertical has a clear roadmap, and this capital is earmarked for some serious milestones: - **The Critical Design Review (CDR):** This is a huge deal in aerospace. It's the point where the design is locked in as the certifiable baseline. After CDR, the company can start building and testing aircraft that are meant to be production-representative. - **Expanding the Energy Centre:** They're tripling battery production capacity. That's a direct investment in the core technology that makes eVTOLs viable. - **Future Production Facilities:** The company is in advanced talks with the UK Government for up to $13.5 million in support for its first full-scale production facility, plus next-gen charging tech. - **Hybrid-Electric Testing:** They're retrofitting their third prototype for hybrid-electric flight testing, which is expected in the first half of 2027. The hybrid variant is key for longer range and more mission flexibility. ### The Momentum Behind the Money This funding isn't happening in a vacuum. Vertical has been making real progress, and they're not shy about it. Earlier this year, they became only the second company globally to complete a piloted transition flight in a full-scale tiltrotor eVTOL. That's not a small feat—it's a major technical hurdle. They also pulled off five successful demo flights in five days at the Farnborough International Airshow, including the first public piloted transition flights. It's the kind of visibility that builds confidence with partners and regulators alike. ### Defense and Partnerships: The Bigger Play Beyond the commercial air taxi market, Vertical is quietly building a defense angle. They've partnered with Near Earth Autonomy, a specialist in autonomous flight systems, and they've noted interest from the UK Ministry of Defence in their hybrid-electric and autonomous capabilities. They're also joining VERTI-GO, a Honeywell Aerospace-led European initiative aimed at integrating eVTOLs into European airspace. That's a smart move—you can't fly if the airspace isn't ready for you. ### The Bottom Line This $100 million is a bridge. It gets Vertical through the Critical Design Review, scales up their battery work, and sets the stage for production. It's not the end of the story, but it's a strong signal that the company is moving from concept to certification. For anyone watching the eVTOL space, this is one to keep an eye on.