Orb Aerospace

Orb Aerospace

Merit-based aviation manufacturing fellowship

Overview

Orb.aero makes aviation more accessible by selecting high-skill individuals through its merit-based Orbship fellowship to work on real aviation and advanced manufacturing projects. Candidates go through a multi-step process—portfolio review, video interview, and a competitive Battle Royale pitch—after which winners join Orbship and work on contracts. The company sets itself apart by prioritizing proven skills and project work over traditional credentials and avoiding traditional flying-taxi models. Its goal is to democratize aviation opportunities by channeling talented outliers into meaningful aerospace challenges at scale.

About Orb Aerospace

Simplify's Rating
Why Orb Aerospace is rated
C-
Rated C on Competitive Edge
Rated C on Growth Potential
Rated D+ on Differentiation

Industries

Industrial & Manufacturing

Aerospace

Education

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

Late Stage VC

Total Funding

$11.1M

Headquarters

Lowell, Michigan

Founded

2017

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Orb Aerospace launched ARC Edge in 2026 for resilient DoW communications.
  • LinkedIn listed Orbship 2026 onsite in Lowell from May through August 2026.
  • ZipRecruiter showed 25 jobs in July 2026, including flight test and RF roles.

What critics are saying

  • No public customer revenue scale exists beyond a $240,000 Navy award.
  • Orb.aero/news shows no posted updates, signaling weak external traction.
  • Heavy US-citizen, clearance-heavy hiring narrows the talent pool and slows scaling.

What makes Orb Aerospace unique

  • Orb Aerospace won a Navy SBIR Phase I award on October 21, 2025.
  • Orbship uses portfolio reviews and Battle Royale pitches to source talent.
  • Orb targets on-site advanced manufacturing in Lowell with merit-based, project-paid work.

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Funding

Total Funding

$11.1M

Above

Industry Average

Funded Over

4 Rounds

Late VC funding comparison data is currently unavailable. We're working to provide this information soon!
Late VC Funding Comparison
Coming Soon

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

401(k) Company Match

Professional Development Budget

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

-4%

1 year growth

-4%

2 year growth

-9%
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Sep 8th, 2025
SEC FORM D

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not necessarily reviewed the information in this filing and has not determined if it is accurate and complete.The reader should not assume that the information is accurate and complete.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Sep 8th, 2025
SEC FORM D/A

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not necessarily reviewed the information in this filing and has not determined if it is accurate and complete.The reader should not assume that the information is accurate and complete.

Castle Placement
Nov 6th, 2024
Top 10 Aerospace Capital Raises in the U.S. - October 16th-31st, 2024

ORB Aerospace, developer of an electric aircraft raised $2.85 million of venture funding through the combination of options and warrants.

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