Natilus
Natilus is a San Diego-based aerospace startup developing blended-wing-body aircraft for commercial cargo and passenger markets. Its KONA regional freighter and HORIZON EVO 200+-passenger airliner aim to disrupt the Boeing-Airbus duopoly with 30% lower fuel burn and 40% more payload volume.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Natilus does
Natilus is a San Diego-based aerospace company developing a family of blended-wing-body (BWB) aircraft for commercial cargo and passenger applications. Founded in 2016 by Aleksey Matyushev and Anatoly Starikov, the company has built a portfolio around two product lines: KONA, a regional cargo freighter with 3.8 metric ton payload, 900 nautical mile range, and planned autonomous flight capability; and HORIZON EVO, a dual-deck 200+-passenger narrowbody targeting Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A321-neo replacement demand for the early 2030s. The core technical differentiator is the BWB architecture itself, where the fuselage and wings form a unified lifting surface (with lift split roughly 50-50 between body and wings versus 90-10 in tube-and-wing designs), enabling stated performance gains of 30% lower fuel burn, 50% lower emissions, 50% lower operating costs, and 40% greater payload volume while maintaining compatibility with existing airport infrastructure and conventional engines.
The business model is hardware sales of certified aircraft to commercial airlines, cargo operators, and logistics companies, supplemented by a leasing channel through MONTE. Commercial validation is anchored by 570+ conditional pre-orders valued at approximately $24 billion across customers including SpiceJet (100 HORIZON), Ameriflight (20 KONA), Nolinor Aviation (KONA production slots), and Flexport, plus strategic partnerships with Kuehne+Nagel, ZeroAvia, and Palantir. The company is pre-revenue, has raised approximately $43 million to date (including a $28 million Series A in February 2026 led by Draper Associates), and is actively pursuing FAA Part 23 (KONA), FAA Part 25 (HORIZON), and Indian DGCA certification simultaneously. The go-to-market is sales-led direct engagement with airline and logistics leadership, augmented by leasing and channel partnerships, with a regional market entity (Natilus India) established in late 2025 to pursue South Asian demand.
Natilus firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Natilus
- Legal name
- Natilus
- Website
- http://natilus.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Natilus is a San Diego-based aerospace startup developing blended-wing-body aircraft for commercial cargo and passenger markets. Its KONA regional freighter and HORIZON EVO 200+-passenger airliner aim to disrupt the Boeing-Airbus duopoly with 30% lower fuel burn and 40% more payload volume.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Natilus industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Aircraft Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Aircraft Manufacturing (336411)
- SIC
- Aircraft (3721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Regional & Commuter Aircraft Manufacturing (IMABAAAD)
Keywords
Where Natilus is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Natilus business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel
Revenue model
- Aircraft Sales - KONA: Natilus generates revenue through the sale of its KONA regional cargo aircraft to commercial cargo operators, freight airlines, and logistics companies. KONA is designed for regional cargo operations with 3.8 metric ton payload capacity and 900 nautical mile range.
- Aircraft Sales - HORIZON EVO: Revenue from sale of HORIZON EVO passenger aircraft to commercial airlines. The aircraft targets the narrowbody segment competing with Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A321-neo, with capacity for 150-250 passengers depending on configuration.
- Aircraft Leasing Partnerships: Through partnerships with leasing companies like MONTE, Natilus enables airlines to acquire aircraft through leasing arrangements rather than direct purchase, creating an alternative revenue stream.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | KONA Regional Cargo Aircraft - targeted for commercial delivery later this decade |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Natilus product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Natilus designs, builds, and sells hyper-efficient blended-wing-body (BWB) aircraft for cargo and passenger applications. The portfolio consists of two product lines: KONA, a regional autonomous cargo freighter with 3.8 metric ton payload capacity and 900 nautical mile range; and HORIZON EVO, a dual-deck 200+ passenger narrowbody aircraft targeting the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A321-neo segment. Both aircraft leverage the BWB architecture that reduces fuel consumption by approximately 30% and increases payload/volume capacity by approximately 40% while maintaining compatibility with existing airport infrastructure.
Product overview
Natilus is developing a family of hyper-efficient blended-wing-body (BWB) aircraft designed to transport people and cargo more sustainably and efficiently than traditional tube-and-wing aircraft. The portfolio consists of two product lines: KONA, a regional cargo freighter with autonomous flight capabilities for commercial and defense logistics applications; and HORIZON EVO, a dual-deck 200+-passenger narrowbody aircraft targeting the commercial airline market. Both aircraft utilize the BWB design that reduces fuel consumption by 30% and increases payload capacity by 40%, while maintaining compatibility with existing airport infrastructure and engine technology.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- KONA: Regional blended-wing-body cargo aircraft with 3.8 metric ton payload capacity and 900 nautical mile range, designed for short-haul cargo operations and e-commerce.
- HORIZON EVO
Products and services
- KONA Next-generation regional blended-wing-body (BWB) cargo freighter aircraft with 3.8 metric ton payload capacity and 900 nautical mile range, designed for autonomous cargo operations serving short-haul routes, e-commerce delivery, remote community logistics, and defense logistics. Pursuing FAA Part 23 certification with first full-scale flight targeted within 24 months of February 2026.
- HORIZON EVO 200+-passenger dual-deck blended-wing-body commercial aircraft designed to compete with Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A321-neo in the narrowbody segment. Features 40% more interior space, 30% fuel savings, 50% lower emissions, compatibility with existing airport infrastructure, and is targeted for FAA Part 25 certification and commercial service entry in the early 2030s.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30% reduction in fuel consumption compared to traditional tube-and-wing aircraft
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Natilus
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Natilus technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature6 records
Natilus partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.
- SpiceJetcoreIndian low-cost carrier committed to 100 HORIZON aircraft purchase pending certification. SpiceJet to assist Natilus with DGCA certification in India. Natilus India subsidiary established in Mumbai under Ravi Bhatia. Strategic partnership marks Natilus entry into one of world's fastest-growing aviation markets.
- Kuehne+NagelstrategicOne of the world's leading logistics providers partnering to assess integration of Natilus BWB aircraft into commercial air logistics operations. Collaboration includes route modeling, environmental impact assessment, operational cost analysis, and engagement with aviation industry. Kuehne+Nagel serves 400,000 customers worldwide.
- Palantir TechnologiesstrategicStrategic partnership to deploy Palantir Warp Speed AI-based operating system for Natilus operations. Focuses on increasing supply chain resiliency and manufacturing efficiency, with longer-term plans for predictive maintenance, disruption recovery, and real-time aircraft performance data for product optimization.
- MONTEminorLeasing company partnership to offer leasing options for Kona regional blended-wing-body aircraft, enabling airlines with capital constraints to acquire Natilus aircraft.
- ZeroAviastrategicPartnership to develop hydrogen-electric propulsion for KONA cargo aircraft. ZeroAvia's ZA600 600kW engine to be offered as sole hydrogen-electric option for KONA, enabling zero-emission operations while maintaining payload capacity and range.
- SiemensstrategicUses Siemens Digital Industries Software (Immersive Engineering solution with Sony XR head-mounted displays) for digital twin environments and full-scale 3D visualization during pre-production stage, achieving time and cost savings compared to conventional prototyping.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Natilus competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Boeing: Largest commercial aircraft OEM globally and direct competitor for HORIZON EVO's 737 MAX / A321neo narrowbody segment. Boeing's 737 backlog, financing arm, and pilot/operator ecosystem represent both the primary incumbent Natilus aims to disrupt and the most credible competitive threat.
- Airbus: Second member of the narrowbody duopoly (A320neo family) and the other half of the 'Boeing-Airbus duopoly' Natilus is positioning to break. Airbus's rate ramp, A220 family, and SAF/hydrogen roadmaps define the commercial baseline Natilus must beat on economics and certification timing.
Direct peers
- Embraer: Most direct comparable for KONA, producing regional jets (E1/E2 families) and freighters that serve the same regional cargo and commuter segments Natilus targets. Embraer offers the closest analog in business model, customer base, and aircraft size class.
Emerging players
- Heart Aerospace: Swedish startup developing the ES-30 hybrid-electric regional aircraft for the same short-haul, 19–30 seat passenger/feeder segment as KONA, with comparable order-book-driven commercial model and pre-orders from airlines and lessors. Closest emerging-stage analog to Natilus's disruption playbook.
- Eviation: Developer of the all-electric Alice regional aircraft targeting 9-passenger commuter and cargo missions. Comparable as an early-stage electric/sustainable regional aircraft startup pursuing FAA Part 23-class certification and airline/cargo pre-orders.
- ZeroAvia: Hydrogen-electric propulsion developer and Natilus partner (ZA600 integration for KONA). Comparable as a deep-tech aviation hardware company pursuing novel zero-emission propulsion for regional aircraft with significant pre-orders and certification programs underway.
- Beta Technologies: Developer of electric conventional-takeoff-and-landing (eCTOL) aircraft for cargo and passenger regional missions, including the CX300 and Alia family. Comparable as a venture-backed regional aviation disruptor with cargo-carrier customers and a phased certification approach.
- Elroy Air: Developer of autonomous hybrid-electric VTOL cargo aircraft (Chaparral) for middle-mile logistics. Comparable as a pre-revenue autonomous cargo aviation startup targeting express-shipping and freight-forwarder customers — overlapping with KONA's express/feeder mission.
- Reliable Robotics: Autonomy company focused on autopilot and remote-pilot systems for fixed-wing cargo aircraft, directly relevant to Natilus's autonomous-flight KONA roadmap. Comparable technology stack and operator-safety-focused commercial pathway.
- Archer Aviation: Public eVTOL developer pursuing FAA type certification and commercial urban air mobility service entry. Comparable as a high-capital, deep-tech aviation startup executing a multi-year FAA certification program against an incumbent aerospace supplier ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Customer concentration
Natilus social profiles
Digital presenceNatilus financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Natilus leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Natilus subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Natilus funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors29 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Natilus M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Natilus
What does Natilus do?
Natilus designs, builds, and sells hyper-efficient blended-wing-body (BWB) aircraft for cargo and passenger applications. The portfolio consists of two product lines: KONA, a regional autonomous cargo freighter with 3.8 metric ton payload capacity and 900 nautical mile range; and HORIZON EVO, a dual-deck 200+ passenger narrowbody aircraft targeting the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A321-neo segment. Both aircraft leverage the BWB architecture that reduces fuel consumption by approximately 30% and increases payload/volume capacity by approximately 40% while maintaining compatibility with existing airport infrastructure.
Is Natilus a public or private company?
Natilus is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Natilus founded?
Natilus was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Natilus based?
Natilus is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Natilus make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Aircraft Sales - KONA is the primary driver. The others are aircraft Sales - HORIZON EVO and aircraft Leasing Partnerships.
Who are Natilus's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Boeing and Airbus. Embraer is listed as a direct peer. Emerging players are Heart Aerospace, Eviation, ZeroAvia, Beta Technologies, Elroy Air, Reliable Robotics and Archer Aviation.
Does Natilus have an API?
No public API is recorded for Natilus.
What industry is Natilus in?
Natilus's product category is Commercial Aircraft Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAAAD, Regional & Commuter Aircraft Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 336411 and its SIC code is 3721.