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Published on
June 18, 2025
5 min read
Mach Industries’ $100M Funding Round Fuels New Defense Tech Innovation
Mach Industries’ $100 million funding round, led by Khosla Ventures and Bedrock Capital, is a major step forward for the young defense technology startup. As reported by TechCrunch, the company raised this new amount at a $470 million valuation, with continued support from existing investor Sequoia Capital. This brings the total funding raised by the company to $185 million.
The company, founded in 2023 by Ethan Thornton, then a 19-year-old MIT dropout, has experienced rapid growth in just two years. The new funding comes after a $79 million Series A round last year and reflects strong interest in the company’s unique approach to developing next-generation weapons and UAV systems.
Investor Support Grows as the Company Expands Operations
The Series B round was led by Keith Rabois from Khosla Ventures and Geoff Lewis from Bedrock Capital. Sequoia, which backed the company in its early days, also joined again. Even though the company’s valuation increased only slightly from its last round, from $335 million in October 2023 to $470 million now, investor interest remains strong. The slow growth in valuation shows that while there is confidence, investors are being cautious in a sensitive industry like defense tech.
Ethan Thornton, the founder and CEO, admitted the valuation hasn’t changed much. “The latest round’s $470 million post‑money to pre‑money valuation is essentially flat,” he told TechCrunch. But the company’s progress tells a different story. In just one year, the team has grown from 20 to 140 employees. Today, they’re setting up a full-sized factory in Huntington Beach, California, which spans 115,000 square feet.
This new factory will help the company in manufacturing its defense products on a larger scale. Some of the new funding will also go toward research and development. Thornton hinted at several upcoming technologies, including a new type of propulsion engine, though he hasn’t revealed details yet.
New Weapons and UAV Systems Signal the Future of Warfare
The company has already made a name for itself with its advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems. It has developed three major defense products so far. One is Viper, a lightweight jet-powered drone that can take off vertically and doesn’t need a runway. Second is Glide, a high-altitude glider that can strike targets from near the edge of the atmosphere. The third is Stratos, a flying platform with sensors and communication tools that can work at very high altitudes.
These systems are designed to carry out long-distance, precise strikes, and to do so at a lower cost than traditional defense equipment. Thornton believes the future of warfare is already here, with AI and automation playing a huge role.
The company works closely with the U.S. government, including the State Department, the Department of Defense, and Congress. Thornton said that their work happens in direct connection with these agencies to ensure that all products are built in line with national security needs.
With strong investor backing, a growing team, and cutting-edge products, this $100 million funding round gives Mach Industries the resources it needs to keep growing. The company is not just building new weapons; it is shaping the future of modern defense technology.
