Israeli eVTOL Startup AIR Raises $23M to Expand US Operations

Israeli eVTOL startup AIR has raised $23 million in a Series A funding round led by Entrée Capital to accelerate its U.S. expansion and ramp up production of its electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. The company offers two flagship models: the piloted AIR ONE personal aircraft, which has over 2,500 pre-orders, and an uncrewed cargo aircraft used for logistics, defense, and emergency response missions. AIR has already delivered its first cargo eVTOL and plans to deliver 15 more cargo units this year while pursuing key flight certifications in the U.S. by 2026. The funding supports scaling production in Israel, hiring staff, and leveraging recent U.S. government executive orders and FAA rule changes that favor eVTOL development and certification. AIR collaborates with the U.S. Air Force's Agility Prime program and emphasizes a unified design for both manned and unmanned aircraft to address commercial and defense markets. CEO Rani Plaut highlighted that the company uses automotive-grade technology to build cost-effective aircraft and is positioning AIR ONE to become one of the first eVTOLs certified as a Light Sport Aircraft under updated FAA regulations.