The Odys Mission
At Odys Aviation, we're building the next generation of aircraft — long-range VTOL aircraft that can take off and land anywhere, carry more, and go farther than other modern aircraft. By combining hybrid-electric propulsion with advanced design, we’re creating a smarter balance between range, payload, and efficiency.
From defense and logistics to passenger travel, our mission is to connect people and goods in ways that truly solve real-world challenges and open new possibilities for the future of flight.
Leadership Team
Our executive team brings expertise in aircraft development and hybrid propulsion to create a category-defining aerial mobility platform.
James Dorris
CEO
James builds advanced transportation 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 15 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 growth.
Axel Radermacher
Head of Product
Axel drives the development and launch of innovative vehicles with 20 years of experience at Karma, Fisker, and Volvo. He has electrified luxury sports cars, redefined heavy-duty trucks, and advanced off-road mobility, always focused on delivering products that exceed customer and market.
Jonathan Stephens
Head of Certification
Jonathan brings 15 years of experience guiding aircraft through complex regulatory processes. At Airbus, he led certification programs across both civilian and military platforms, ensuring compliance with the highest safety and performance standards. At Odys, he applies this expertise to deliver aircraft that meet rigorous global certification requirements.
Uwe Kiesewetter
Chief Engineer
Uwe brings 13 years of experience leading complex aerospace programs. As Chief Engineer for Airbus’ entire VTOL program, he guided the design and development of next-generation vertical flight systems. At Odys, he applies this expertise to advance aircraft engineering and ensure the company delivers safe, efficient, and high-performance aircraft solutions.
Timeline
Seed Funding Launch
Odys Aviation officially launched with $12.4 million in seed funding from Y Combinator and other top investors. This milestone provided the foundation to assemble a world-class team, accelerate early R&D, and establish Odys as a serious player in the race to redefine regional air mobility with hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft.
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.
$10B in Early Orders
The company secured $10.1 billion in Letters of Intent and pre-orders for 1,340 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 hybrid-electric propulsion and vertical takeoff transitions, 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 enabled parallel testing — a crucial step toward accelerating certification and achieving commercial readiness.
Transition Flight Validated
Odys successfully completed its full transition flight test program, validating key performance metrics across vertical and horizontal 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 at scale.
$231M Firm Orders Secured
Odys secured $231 million in firm, binding purchase agreements from global customers. This achievement translated earlier demand into committed revenue, reinforcing market confidence and establishing Odys as a financially validated program with a clear path to large-scale production and deployment.
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 power systems that scale beyond aviation, reinforcing its leadership in advanced aerospace and energy technology.
Oman Partnership Signed
Odys signed a landmark agreement with the Sultanate of Oman to launch one of the world's most comprehensive advanced air mobility ecosystem demonstration programs in 2026. This partnership validated our dual-use strategy, combining regulators, operators, and infrastructure in a full-scale national testbed for the Laila platform.