Startup · $51.6m raised
Sydney, NSW
Programs: Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (Sovereign UAS Challenge)
Every investor coverage indicates participated in a round AMSL Aero raised.
| Investor | Rounds | Invested |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator | Accelerator · Grant · Grant | - |
| ARENA | Grant | - |
| Australian Government | Grant · Grant | - |
| Australian Renewable Energy Agency | Grant | $5,430,000 |
| Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) | Grant | - |
| CRC Program | Grant | $3,000,000 |
| Defence | Grant | - |
| Federal Government | Grant | - |
| Hostplus | Series B | - |
| IP Group Australia | Series B | - |
| St Baker Energy Innovation Fund | Series B | $5,000,000 |
| Telstra Super | Series B | - |
| TelstraSuper | Series B | - |
| the federal government | Grant | - |
Companies AMSL Aero acquired or merged with, per published coverage. Buying a company is not investing in one: nothing here counts in the deals column.
| Name | Role | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Moore | Chief Engineering Officer (former) · Founder | St Baker Energy Innovation Fund, Startup Daily (18 Nov 2024), @AuManufacturing (18 Nov 2024), Startup Daily (6 Feb 2024), @AuManufacturing (5 Feb 2024), RenewEconomy (12 Dec 2023), Defence Connect, SmartCompany, RenewEconomy (8 Nov 2023), @AuManufacturing (8 Nov 2023), ARENA, @AuManufacturing (21 Feb 2023), @AuManufacturing (6 Sep 2022) |
| Chris Smallhorn | Chair | Defence Connect |
| Max York | Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director | @AuManufacturing (4 Oct 2024), @AuManufacturing (5 Feb 2024), RenewEconomy, Defence Connect |
| Simon Coburn | Hydrogen Systems Engineer | @AuManufacturing (3 Jun 2025), @AuManufacturing (18 Feb 2025) |
| Siobhan Lyndon | Chief Operating Officer · Founder | Defence Connect, @AuManufacturing (8 Nov 2023), @AuManufacturing (6 Sep 2022) |
Stories naming AMSL Aero. Where several outlets covered the same round, they are bundled under whichever ran the fullest account.
IP Group Australia and the CEFC launched the Climate Catalyst Fund with a first close of $50 million combined, targeting seed and Series A investments in Australian climate technology.
Manufacturing roundup: two hydrogen aircraft developers register cryogenic hydrogen tanks, a new WA Chief Scientist begins, a battery recycler wins a state grant, and the steel lobby seeks US tariff relief.
Roundup of manufacturing briefs: FBR's US venture option with CRH lapses, Li-S Energy appoints Rick Francis to its board as a director departs, plus sponsorship, TAFE funding, rate commentary and a hydrogen collaboration.
Hostplus has tipped an additional A$125 million into the deep-tech fund IP Group runs, taking its overall backing to A$435 million across companies spun out of Australian universities.
Vertiia, the electric aircraft built by AMSL Aero, has flown unaided for the first time, an Australian milestone that co-founder Andrew Moore says shows the seven-year-old design works.
AMSL Aero reports its Vertia eVTOL has flown free for the first time, remotely on battery power in regional NSW, with deposits held for 26 aircraft and hydrogen-powered testing slated for next year.
Sydney VTOL developer AMSL Aero and the Philippines' BCDA have signed an agreement to explore a hydrogen-powered aircraft industry there, including a feasibility study tied to New Clark City.
Three local drone makers won defence accelerator contracts worth $2.2 million apiece to finish prototypes and build 100 uncrewed aerial systems, while the Ghost Shark underwater drone reached America for trans-Pacific testing.
Also @AuManufacturing
Federal grants roundup: 21 Cooperative Research Centres Projects awards worth $51 million in Round 15, with EQ Plastics, Optiscan Imaging and NEXSEN BioTech each receiving $3 million for product development.
Also RenewEconomy
AMSL Aero has landed its first civilian customer, Aviation Logistics, which ordered ten Vertiia aircraft with deposits and options for more; the aircraft maker earlier received an ARENA grant.
More than eleven Australian defence firms have contracted to build drone prototypes under ASCA's Sovereign UAS Challenge, with contracts worth a combined $1.21 million and demonstrations planned for April.
Also @AuManufacturing
Eleven companies will develop prototype drones for Defence's Sovereign UAS Challenge, run by ASCA, under contracts worth a combined $1.21 million, with demonstrations due in April.
A rolling roundup of Australian energy-sector job moves, listing dozens of executives, directors and ministers joining or leaving utilities, regulators, developers and industry bodies between May and December 2023.
Aviation startup AMSL Aero has named ex-Navy commander Max York as its top executive, with founders Andrew Moore and Siobhan Lyndon shifting to engineering and operations duties ahead of a planned 2024 capital raise.
Seven Australian startups together banked over $90 million in the past seven days across venue software, hydrogen aviation, social media, craft brewing, plastics alternatives, aged-care robotics and accountant training.
Also Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Forbes Australia
ARENA grants AMSL Aero $5.43 million under its Advancing Renewables Program to develop Vertiia, a hydrogen-powered electric aircraft, its first hydrogen aviation project.
Also @AuManufacturing·RenewEconomy·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily
Trevor St Baker is launching a second investment fund seeking $200 million from outside backers, after his first vehicle backed Tritium, Novonix, Evie Networks and other energy and mobility companies.
Roundup of Australian manufacturing news: Austin Engineering and Thales win government grants, IMCRC hands futuremap to the Australian Industry Group, AMSL Aero completes its eVTOL's first flight, and Gale Pacific reports half-year earnings.
Techboard's September 2022 roundup reports Australian raises led by Morse Micro's $140m Series B, several acquisitions including ResApp Health to Pfizer, fund closes by Telstra Ventures, OIF and Main Sequence, and open raises.
Twelve projects share $18 million in the first round of the federal Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships grants, with eVTOL maker AMSL Aero among the recipients; it also recently completed a $23 million Series B.
Also TechCrunch Australia
AMSL Aero, Praxis Labs and Swinburne's Air Hub won federal grants under the Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships program, while AMSL Aero also recently secured $5 million from Trevor St Baker's energy innovation fund.
Also @AuManufacturing
Electric aircraft maker AMSL Aero closed a $23 million Series B with St Baker, IP Group, TelstraSuper and Hostplus as it commercialises its Vertiia aircraft, having earlier won a $3 million CRC Program grant.