Exosonic

Overview

Exosonic was an innovative aerospace startup company founded in 2019, primarily focusing on the development of supersonic transport aircraft. Based in Los Angeles, California, the company was established by Norris Tie, a former engineer at Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. Exosonic successfully raised over $4.5 million in private capital and $3 million from AFWERX funding before it ceased operations. It entered the spotlight for its ambitious goal to pioneer quiet supersonic commercial flights.

Recent Developments

November 2024: Exosonic announced the closure of its operations. Despite previous successes and significant milestones, the company decided to wind down due to an inability to secure sufficient traction and support from government contracts that were crucial for continued operations. Norris Tie, the founder, expressed pride in the company's achievements and a firm belief in the continuing need for quiet supersonic flight advancements.
April 2024: Exosonic achieved the first flight of its EX-3M "Trident" unmanned aerial system at a dry lake bed in Southern California. This subscale UAV served as a testbed for future developments in supersonic UAVs, playing a pivotal role in demonstrating Exosonic's capabilities in translating aircraft design into airworthy test flights.
September 2024: The U.S. Air Force awarded Exosonic a contract under its Small Business Innovation Research program to develop supersonic fifth-generation targets, confirming Exosonic’s efforts to focus on military applications amidst shifting away from commercial passenger aircraft.
August 2023: Exosonic received a Small Business Innovation Research Phase 2 contract from AFWERX to advance the design of a supersonic target aircraft, showcasing continued governmental interest in its military-focused supersonic UAVs.
June 2023: Exosonic partnered with EpiSys Science to enhance autonomous capabilities in supersonic UAVs, aimed at addressing both governmental and commercial needs for advanced unmanned systems.
April 2023: The company was actively involved with NASA’s supersonic transport concepts, contributing to quiet supersonic flight technologies and collaborating with major aerospace companies such as Boeing and GE Aerospace.

Attribute	Information
Founding Date	2019
Headquarters	Los Angeles, California, USA
Founders	Norris Tie
Revenue	Not publicly disclosed
Profits	Not publicly disclosed
Key Investors	Soma Capital, Psion Capital, Stellar Solutions
Industry	Aerospace
Number of Employees	15 as of the last report

Early History

Exosonic was founded in March 2019 by aerospace engineer Norris Tie. The company quickly gained attention by joining Y Combinator’s Winter 2020 startup cohort. Early on, Exosonic focused on leveraging low-boom technology to minimize the sonic boom impact of supersonic travel. This positioned them as a key player in the pursuit of overland supersonic flights, traditionally limited due to noise regulations. Their business model was rooted in the belief that quiet, efficient, and sustainable supersonic travel could revolutionize the aviation industry.

Company Profile and Achievements

Exosonic’s business model centered around developing both manned and unmanned supersonic aircraft. They aimed to lead in producing quiet and sustainable supersonic vehicles, both for commercial air travel and military applications. Here are some notable achievements:

Y Combinator Participation: Exosonic was part of Y Combinator's Winter 2020 cohort, providing a robust foundation for venture-led growth and innovation.
AFWERX Collaborations: The company secured multiple contracts from AFWERX for supersonic UAV development, validating their strategic focus on bridging engineering intricacies with market needs, particularly for military applications.
Subscale UAV Development: The development of the EX-3M Trident UAV marked a significant achievement, demonstrating Exosonic’s capability to explore autonomous supersonic systems effectively.
Sustainable Aviation Initiatives: Exosonic partnered with Twelve to develop sustainable jet fuels tailored for their supersonic engines, reflecting their commitment to environmentally sustainable aviation innovations.

Current Operations and Market Position

Before ceasing operations, Exosonic actively developed dual-use technologies to serve both the U.S. Department of Defense and potential commercial markets. Their supersonic aircraft, including the EX-3M Trident UAV, were developed to key strategic specifications, offering capabilities for training, reconnaissance, and other missions. Exosonic managed to secure key partnerships and contracts to bolster their position within the aerospace sector, competing with other emerging players such as Boom and Spike Aerospace.

Conclusion

Exosonic played a pioneering role in the aerospace sector with its innovations in supersonic technology. Despite closing its operations, the company left an indelible mark through its vision of achieving quieter, eco-friendly supersonic travel. While operational challenges were significant, especially in securing consistent funding for ambitious supersonic aircraft projects, their engineering achievements and contributions to military aviation technology continue to influence modern aerospace goals. Future enterprises may build on Exosonic's groundwork as they attempt to achieve similar breakthroughs in supersonic flight.