Beta Technologies

Based in Vermont, Beta Technologies is an American aviation company that focuses on the development of eVTOL aircraft for urban air mobility (UAM). Its flagship aircraft, the Alia-250, is a five-passenger eVTOL designed for air taxi services, which, according to the company, would help reduce travel time, carbon footprint, and traffic congestion in urban areas. Beta's eVTOLs can fly up to 250 miles at 170 mph on a single charge. Beta Technologies aims to revolutionize transportation by offering fast, safe, and sustainable air travel that is accessible to everyone. 

The company also manufactures electric fixed wing CX-300, a conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL) version of its Alia-250 eVTOL aircraft, for which the company was pursuing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification as of March 2023, following orders from three customers. While the certification process for both planes was happening in parallel, the company believed that the traditional design of CX 300 could streamline the certification process, as it could comply with the current FAA regulations for airplanes. Moreover, the data generated during the certification process of CX 300 could be reused for certifying its eVTOL Alia aircraft, which shares the same airframe, batteries, and propulsion system. The company submitted its certification application in November 2022, and it aimed to make the CX300 available to commercial customers in 2025. As of May 2023, it had already obtained military certification for the CX300 aircraft.

Beta Technologies was also developing advanced battery technology that would allow its aircraft to fly farther and carry more passengers, which would make UAM more viable as a transportation option. Its electric aircraft charging network is powered by the Charge Cube, which allows safe, fast, and efficient charging of next-generation electric aircraft and ground-based EVs. The company has partnered with airports, FBOs, and OEMs to deploy this technology and facilitate the future of aviation and electric transportation. Beta was building its charging network as of May 2023, with nine electric chargers already accessible to the public online. Moreover, the company had more than 55 sites in the permitting or construction phase and planned to have almost 150 chargers online by 2025.

Key customers and partnerships

In 2017 , the BETA team developed its first eVTOL, AVA-XC, in partnership with United Therapeutics. In 2021 , the company entered a strategic partnership with CAE to design and develop its pilot and maintenance technician training program for the ALIA eVTOL aircraft. In 2022 , BETA partnered with the US Army to collaborate on the development of eVTOL aircraft for defense purposes, making it the first eVTOL developer to have partnerships with two branches of the US military. Later, that same year, BETA was chosen by Air New Zealand as one of the four electric aircraft companies to partner with for its Mission NextGen sustainable aircraft development program. The program's goal is to have the next generation of aircraft flying in New Zealand by 2026. The company has a diverse customer mix for its eCTOL and eVTOL aircraft, which includes UPS , Blade , United Therapeutics , US Air Force, Bristow Group , and Air New Zealand .

Funding and financials

In its latest funding round in April 2022 , Beta Technologies raised USD 375 million in Series B funding, bringing the startup’s valuation to USD 2.4 billion . The round was led by TPG Rise Climate and Fidelity Management & Research Company. The funds were to be used to further refine its electric propulsion systems and controls, for advance testing of its two ALIA prototypes, and to expand its charging infrastructure.