Boom Supersonic Raises $33 Million in Series A Funding to Build History’s Fastest Civil Airplane

Boom’s new financing will fund XB-1 development and flight test, a key milestone on the path to mainstream supersonic travel.

Denver, Colorado – March 22, 2017 – Boom Supersonic, the supersonic aircraft company, today announced its $33 million Series A round. Participants in the syndicate funding round include 8VC, Caffeinated Capital, Palm Drive Ventures, RRE Ventures, and Y Combinator’s Continuity Fund. The Series A brings Boom’s total funding to $41 million.

“Our mission is to make supersonic flight a reality,” said Blake Scholl, chief executive officer and founder of Boom. “With this new capital, we are closer than ever to the first flight of our XB-1 supersonic demonstrator.” Boom will use the new financing to finish XB-1’s development and fabrication and conduct a thorough flight test program.

“When I first met with Boom, I was fascinated by their plans to revive supersonic flight, making the world more accessible for millions of people,” said Sam Altman, President of Y Combinator. “Since then, Boom has formed partnerships with aviation industry leading manufacturers and made rapid progress in the development of the demonstrator – I am excited to be part of the coming supersonic renaissance.” As a one-third scale demonstrator for Boom’s supersonic airliner, Overture, XB-1 will demonstrate in flight the key technologies enabling affordable supersonic travel, including aerodynamics, materials, and high-efficiency supersonic intakes.

Since the unveiling of the XB-1 demonstrator in November 2016, the Boom team has been engaged in extensive wind tunnel tests at the Walter H. Beech Wind Tunnel at Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research. The Boom team is also developing hardware for the plane’s first flight with support from partners at Honeywell, Tencate, and Blue Force.

About Boom Supersonic

Boom Supersonic is redefining commercial air travel by bringing supersonic flight back to the skies with Overture. This historic commercial airliner is designed and committed to industry-leading standards of speed, safety, and sustainability. Boom’s vision is to bring families, businesses, and cultures closer together through supersonic travel and make the world dramatically more accessible. Boom is the first commercial airplane manufacturer to commit to a carbon-neutral flight test program and to build sustainability into its entire aircraft program. XB-1, Boom’s supersonic demonstrator aircraft for Overture, rolled out in 2020 and its flight test program is underway. The company is backed by world-class investors including Bessemer Venture Partners, Prime Movers Lab and American Express Ventures and has 30 aircraft on pre-order. Founded in 2014, Boom has assembled a team of over 150 full-time employees who have made contributions to over 220 air and spacecraft programs. For more information, please visit https://boomsupersonic.com.


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