Best Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech Companies in Michigan, United States
The 46 best Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies in Michigan, United States in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: SkySpecs.
Our analysis of 50 Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies
$31.9b in tracked funding; 90% of the stack-profiled cohort runs cloud-native; funding activity peaked in 2021.
Ranked: Best Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies in Michigan
| # | Company | Disclosed funding | Last round | Employees | Founder | Tech stack | Web popularity | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SkySpecs Provider of UAVs solutions for inspection 67Funding top 20%Talent top 28%Growth top 35%Product top 35% All 11 signals ▾Fundingtop 20% Talenttop 28% Growthtop 35% Producttop 35% Moattop 35% Globaltop 40% Markettop 42% Techtop 44% Innovationbottom 42% Patentsbottom 26% Newsbottom 24% Funding: Raised $122M across 15 rounds · 15 rounds over 14 yrs (1.1/yr) Talent: Analyst team rating 4/5 rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 67/100 | $122M | 17 mo ago | 289 | — | WordPressApple iCloud MailGoogle Workspace+32 | Top 10M | 2 patents Collision avoidance systems for vehicles using sensor-based driver assistance technology. | — |
| 2 | ATLAS Space Provider of cloud-based software solutions for space mission management | $46M | 23 mo ago | 45 | Corey Geer CEO | WordPress Block EditorElementorWordPress+35 | Top 10M | 23 patents Configuring space‑to‑ground communication devices and analytics for satellite links | — |
| 3 | Orbion Space Technology Developer of integrated Hall-effect propulsion systems for small satellite applications | $42M | 8 mo ago | 50 | Lyon King Co-Founder & CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+21 | Top 10M | 30 patents Electric Hall-effect thrusters and onboard propulsion testing for spacecraft | — |
| 4 | Airspace Link Provider of cloud-based drone delivery solutions | $38M | 49 mo ago | 56 | Michael Healander Co-Founder | HubSpot CMS HubApple iCloud MailMicrosoft 365+20 | Top 5M | — | 1 job opening · 1 launch · 1 expansion |
| 5 | Michigan Aerospace Developer of equipment and products for various industries | $11M | 9 mo ago | — | Paul Hays Co-Founder | — | — | 111 patents Advanced aerospace sensor and optical measurement systems for air data, lidar, and remote sensing | — |
| 6 | FAAC Provider of virtual training simulation software for public safety officers | $10M | 95 mo ago | 175 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+25 | Top 5M | 22 patents Industrial pump control panel simulation and driver training scoring software | — |
| 7 | Aethero Manufacturer of space-rated computers and software for data processing applications | $8M | 13 mo ago | — | Edward G Co-Founder & CEO | WordPressApple iCloud MailGoogle Workspace+24 | Top 50M | — | — |
| 8 | ASX Developer of vertical takeoff and landing electric vehicle | $3M | 44 mo ago | 10 | R King Co-Founder | WebflowVimeocore-js+11 | Top 50M | — | — |
| 9 | Sniffer Robotics Drones-based solution for detecting methane gas emissions in solid waste industry | $3M | 23 mo ago | 16 | Bob Dentzman Co-Founder | Cart FunctionalityWix eCommerceWix+21 | Top 10M | — | — |
| 10 | SoarTech Developer of intelligent systems for defense | $2M | 75 mo ago | 123 123 → 82 (-33%) | Michael Lent CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+17 | Top 50M | — | 1 partnership |
| 11 | Swarm Defense Manufacturer of modular drone systems designed for coordinated swarm operations 22Talent top 38%Funding bottom 48%Tech bottom 46%Market bottom 31% All 5 signals ▾Talenttop 38% Fundingbottom 48% Techbottom 46% Marketbottom 31% Globalbottom 25% Talent: 2 named leaders on record · 2 C-suite/founder profiles curated Funding: Raised $1.4M across 1 rounds · 1 rounds over 1 yrs (1.0/yr) rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 22/100 | $1M | 4 mo ago | — | Ryan Sigmon Co-Founder | SanityTurbopackNode.js+11 | Top 10M | — | 1 launch |
| 12 | Hybrid Robotics Developer of a drone with integrated ROV for underwater exploration purposes | $422K | 25 mo ago | 10 | Aaron Bottke Head of Research and Design & Cofounder | — | — | — | 2 launchs |
| 13 | Kall Morris Provider of end-of-life services, orbit change maneuvers, and active debris removal | $395K | 13 mo ago | 10 | Austin Morris Co-Founder & Director of Engineering | — | — | — | — |
| 14 | Skypersonic Develops indoor drones and tracking systems | $350K | 110 mo ago | 14 | — | — | — | 15 patents UAV safety cages and ground‑based long‑range positioning/control systems for drones | — |
| 15 | Virtus Solis Space-based solar power generation systems for clean energy | $150K | 10 mo ago | 9 | John Bucknell Co-Founder & CEO | Cart FunctionalitySquarespace CommerceSquarespace+13 | Top 50M | — | — |
| 16 | Fathom Drone Underwater drones for exploration, adventure, and sharing underwater experiences | $140K | 110 mo ago | 6 | Matt Gira Co-Founder | — | — | — | — |
| 17 | blueflite Developer of drone-based logistics platform for commercial deliveries and related services | $120K | 49 mo ago | 17 | — | WordPress Block EditorElementorWordPress+21 | Top 50M | — | — |
Top 12 Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies in Michigan
#1
Acquired · Houghton, Michigan · founded 2016 · 50 employees$41.7Mraised▾
Developer of integrated Hall-effect propulsion systems for small satellite applications. The company provides propulsion systems including thruster, power processing unit, and propellant management assembly. The systems are designed for in-space maneuvers and collision avoidance. The company co-engineers module configurations to fit available spacecraft volume.
- Dec 2025Series B$27.1M
- Oct 2025Conventional Debt$500K
- Jul 2025Series B$650K
- Nov 2024Series B$2.5M
#2
Series D · Ann Arbor, Michigan · founded 2012 · 289 employees$121.5Mraised▾
Provider of UAVs solutions for inspections. It finds its application in hard-to-reach structures, such as bridges and tall wind turbines. The UAV consists of many sensors that help to inspect the structure, while the AI helps in obstacle avoidance, stabilization, and 3D localization. The inspected data can be downloaded and reviewed by the user.
- Mar 2025Series D$20M
- Oct 2024Grant (prize money)—
- May 2022Series D$80.2M
- Mar 2021Series C$10.2M
#3
Funding Raised · Ypsilanti, Michigan · founded 1996$11.3Mraised▾
Developer of equipment and products for various industries. It provides users with an advanced engineering and products company that provides innovative remote sensing, intelligent systems, and software solutions. The company's primary focus is on atmospheric measurement systems for aerospace customers, with applications extending to other industries.
- Nov 2025Grant (prize money)$2M
- Feb 2023Grant (prize money)$198.1K
- Feb 2020Grant (prize money)$206.5K
- Feb 2019Grant (prize money)$231.5K
#4
Seed · Auburn Hills, Michigan · founded 2023$1.4Mraised▾
Manufacturer of modular drone systems designed for coordinated swarm operations. These platforms consist of airframes, propulsion components, electronics, and firmware developed for autonomous flight. The system architecture supports deployment through ground stations, allowing operators to manage multiple units simultaneously. Software interfaces enable mission configuration, waypoint setting, and formation control without requiring manual coding. The hardware supports over-the-air updates to maintain functionality and performance. These systems are engineered for rapid setup and deployment in various environments.
- Mar 2026Seed$1.4M
#5
Acquired · Traverse City, Michigan · founded 2015 · 45 employees$46Mraised▾
Provider of cloud-based software solutions for space mission management. It provides users with software solutions for mission project management. It also provides users with constellation and data management, network management, and asset monitoring.
- Sep 2024Series B$15M
- Aug 2022Series B$26M
- Nov 2021Grant (prize money)—
- Feb 2020Series A$5M
#6
Seed · Ann Arbor, Michigan · founded 2021$8.4Mraised▾
Manufacturer of space-rated computers and software for data processing applications. The company designs computing modules for various platforms, including individual, multiple redundant, and distributed configurations. These systems support capturing, processing, and managing data. The company leverages standard architectures, radiation-hardened components, and modern software to provide high-performance computing solutions. The versatile architecture suits autonomous spacecraft operation, machine vision, imagery processing, radio frequency signal processing, and artificial intelligence applications.
- Jun 2025Seed$8.4M
#7
Seed · Marquette, Michigan · founded 2019 · 10 employees$395Kraised▾
Provider of end-of-life services, orbit change maneuvers, and active debris removal. The company offers mobility services to optimize satellite missions, including relocation, reorbiting, and hazard removal. It develops technologies for in-space logistics, spacecraft servicing, and orbital collection stations. The company aims to advance solutions for space sustainability.
- Jul 2025Grant (prize money)$500K
- Dec 2024Seed$140K
- Aug 2023Seed$180K
- Mar 2023Seed$215K
#8
Seed · Troy, Michigan · founded 2019 · 9 employees$150Kraised▾
Space-based solar power generation systems for clean energy. It offers a space-based solar power energy generation system and enables low energy costs. It provides a scalable and dispatchable energy source. It focuses on avoiding long-distance distribution and storage needs. It enables desalination, recycling, chemical synthesis, and urban vertical farming.
- Oct 2025Grant (prize money)$1.9M
- Mar 2024Seed$150K
#9
Seed · Ann Arbor, Michigan · founded 2016 · 16 employees$2.5Mraised▾
Drones-based solution for detecting methane gas emissions in solid waste industry. It comprises of a hexacopter drone featuring a closed-loop methane gas detector mounted on it with an air collection hose that extends to the ground surface to collect near-ground air samples which are measured on board.
- Sep 2024Seed$1.2M
- Apr 2023Seed$2M
- Jul 2018Seed—
#10
Series B · Detroit, Michigan · founded 2018 · 56 employees$38.5Mraised▾
Provider of cloud-based drone delivery solutions. It comprises four components namely AirRegistry-where users can opt in or out of receiving drone deliveries at their home or place of business, AirInspect- a service that handles all of the requisite city and state permitting for delivery companies in order to enable drone delivery, AirNet- creates a federally approved air route for each drone delivery, and AirLink- an API that connects participating delivery services with the local governments and collects a fee that is paid to say local governments.
- Jun 2022Series B$23.1M
- May 2021Series A$10M
- Jan 2020Series A$4M
- Sep 2019Seed$1M
#11
Seed · Traverse City, Michigan · founded 2018 · 10 employees$421.7Kraised▾
Developer of a drone with integrated ROV for underwater exploration purposes. The drone can land on water and then launch an underwater remotely operated vehicle, attached via a cable. The company claims that the tether is long enough to allow the submersible below the surface. The solution can be mounted with multiple payloads for gathering HD videos, images, depth, and temperature data which is then sent back to the user in real-time for analysis purposes.
- Jul 2024Seed$221.7K
- Mar 2022Seed$200K
#12
Funding Raised · Detroit, Michigan · founded 2011 · 10 employees$2.6Mraised▾
Airspace Experience Technologies is a developer of vertical takeoff and landing electric vehicle 'MOBi-One' with up to 260 miles range. The aircraft uses the distributed electric propulsion (DEP) system and integrates a hybrid propulsion system that enables the aircraft to fly without recharging.
- Dec 2022Conventional Debt$2.4M
- Sep 2017Conventional Debt$230K
Funding & investor landscape
Notable founders
Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage
Share of Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech coverage by sub-theme.
Regulatory-risk over time rising
Funding & growth over time
funding rising · growth rising
What Michigan researches in launch vehicles
- University of Michigan–Ann Arbor10
- University of Michigan3
- Progress Michigan1
- Michigan Technological University1
Common questions
Rohit lives in the feed. He covers what's moving right now — the funding rounds, launches and shifts breaking across the trade press — and ties them back to where the sector is heading.