The Odys Mission
At Odys, we're developing advanced hybrid power systems, scalable from 20 kW to 4 MW for applications on the ground and in the air. We validate this technology in one of the most demanding environments possible: aviation, where our systems must deliver the right balance of power density, efficiency, and durability. Capabilities that translate to any application.
From critical logistics to defense to daily life, our mission is to deliver power systems and aircraft that solve real-world challenges. Opening new possibilities for the future of flight, and beyond.
Leadership Team
Our executive team brings expertise in power generation and aircraft development to create a category-defining aerial mobility platform.
James Dorris
CEO
James builds advanced propulsion systems with 15+ years of experience at GoogleX, Hyperloop One, and Arrivo. He began his career at MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center, where his research sparked a lifelong passion for sustainable innovation and technology that transforms.
Andy Apple
VP, Strategy
Andy accelerates high-growth ventures with expertise in finance, venture capital, and startups. He began at JPMorgan, invested in early-stage companies at Sound Ventures, and founded Mellomanic, a music-tech platform with 100,000+ users and 100+ enterprise partners. His focus on transformative technology brought him to Odys to redefine transportation.
Vincent Frascogna
VP, Business Development
Vincent brings over 25 years of experience in global aviation. He has led and executed numerous multi-million-dollar sales and partnership agreements across the aerospace sector for companies including British Airways and Etihad. At Odys, he focuses on expanding market opportunities and forging strategic collaborations to accelerate the company’s revenue growth.
Uwe Kiesewetter
Chief Engineer
Uwe brings 13 years leading complex aerospace programs. As Chief Engineer for Airbus' entire VTOL program, he guided next-generation vertical flight systems from design through development. At Odys, he applies this expertise to advance aircraft engineering and deliver safe, efficient, high-performance aircraft.
Bob Ellithorpe
SVP, Operations
Bob’s expertise spans 30 years, with leadership roles at Archer, Sikorsky, Bell, and GKN. In addition to driving performance in aerospace, Bob also served in the US Marine Corps as an Infantry Officer. At Odys, he applies this experience to advancing development and deliveries of our aircraft.
Oliver Reinhardt
Head of Design Organization
Oliver’s three decades of experience spans nine aircraft certification projects and extensive international validations, as well as the setup of multiple EASA-approved Design Organizations.
Jonathan Stephens
Head of Certification
Jonathan brings 15 years guiding aircraft through complex regulatory processes. At Airbus, he led certification across civilian and military platforms. At Odys, he ensures aircraft meet rigorous global certification requirements.
Carlos Herrera
Head of Marketing and Communications
Carlos has spent the past decade shaping the narrative around emerging technologies, including EVs, eVTOL, and robotics, with leadership roles at Archer, Overair, and Karma Automotive.
Timeline
First VTOL Demonstrator Flight
Odys completed its first sub-scale VTOL demonstrator flight using flaps for thrust vectoring, a breakthrough in aerodynamic control. This achievement validated our unique design approach, demonstrating that hybrid-electric aircraft could combine vertical takeoff with efficient long-range performance - an essential technical differentiator for the future Laila and Alta platforms. It also triggered the signing of $4.8bn in LOIs from customers.
Seed Funding Launches R&D
Odys Aviation emerged from stealth and received $12.4 million in seed funding from a large group of early investors after completing Y Combinator in August 2021. This milestone provided the foundation to assemble a world-class team, accelerate early R&D efforts, and establish Odys as a serious player in the hybrid power generation and VTOL aircraft markets.
DoD Contract Wins
Building on the momentum from the company’s early seed investment, Odys secured its first Phase II contract from the U.S. Department of Defense. This award marked a key validation of the company’s dual-use strategy, recognizing the potential of Odys’ hybrid-electric VTOL technology to serve both commercial and defense applications and accelerate real-world testing.
$9B in Early Orders
The company secured over $9 billion in Letters of Intent and pre-orders for aircraft. This early commercial traction not only validated strong global demand for our dual-use technology but also positioned the company as one of the most commercially credible programs in advanced air mobility.
First Full-Scale Prototype Campaign
Odys launched the first full-scale Laila prototype flight test campaign. This program provided critical real-world data on propulsion and flight characteristics, setting the stage for rapid iteration and proving the team’s ability to build and fly large-scale hardware within the first year of operation.
Second Prototype Built
The second Laila prototype was completed, expanding our test fleet and enabling more rigorous validation of design improvements. Building a second aircraft so quickly underscored our execution velocity and allowed parallel testing, a crucial step toward accelerating certification and commercial readiness.
Transition Flight Validated
Odys successfully completed its full transition flight test program, validating key performance metrics across vertical, transition, and cruise flight modes. This milestone marked the first time the Laila platform operated across its complete flight envelope, proving the technical feasibility of our hybrid-electric VTOL concept.
1MW Generator Breakthrough
The company also completed the first test of its Alta 1MW generator, a breakthrough in hybrid-electric propulsion. This milestone demonstrated our capability to develop and integrate bleeding edge power systems that scale beyond aviation to aerospace, nuclear power and clean technology, reinforcing its leadership in advanced aerospace and energy innovation.
Oman Partnership Signed
Odys signed a landmark agreement with the Sultanate of Oman to launch one of the industry’s most comprehensive customer evaluation programs in 2026. This partnership validated our dual-use strategy, combining commercial operators, US and Omani defense forces, regulators, and infrastructure in a full-scale national testbed for the Laila platform.
Series A Fuels Global Expansion
Odys Aviation closed its Series A funding round, raising $26m to accelerate full- scale flight testing, manufacturing readiness and global launch programs. The investment underscored growing market confidence in Odys' dual-use hybrid- electric VTOL technology and provided the resources to scale operations, expand the engineering team, and advance key international launch operations.
Honeywell Counter-UAS Aerial Platform
Laila is selected to serve as the first airborne application of the Honeywell SAMURAI system, introducing a new defensive layer between ground-based sensors and high-end missile defense systems, reducing reliance on costly kinetic defenses while extending protection coverage across vast and remote areas. Laila’s hybrid propulsion system produces enough power to stay in flight for up to eight hours across a 450-mile range, making it the ideal aerial platform for ground-based cUAS systems.
ST Engineering Agreement
Odys is selected by ST Engineering to develop a hybrid-electric propulsion system for their DrN-600 medium-lift cargo UAS. Under the MOU, Odys will serve as the hybrid architecture developer, initial prototype supplier, and scaled production partner for future tentative demands under the DrN-600 EHPS program.