Agilis Air Raises $1.4M Seed for Domestic NDAA-Compliant Drones

Agilis Air Closes $1.4M Seed Round

Agilis Air, a Youngstown, Ohio-based defense technology company, has raised $1.4 million in Seed funding. The round was announced on September 14, 2026, and included participation from Ohio Innovation Fund, North Coast Ventures, EagleNXT (AgEagle Aerial Systems), Vici Capital, John "Mike" Murray, and Yon Raz-Fridman. No lead investor was disclosed.

What Agilis Air Does

Agilis Air develops and manufactures low-cost, modular, NDAA-compliant drones and autonomy technologies entirely in the United States on a 100% domestic supply chain. Its flagship product, the Remora ARQ, is a Group 1 first-person-view aircraft built for reconnaissance and tactical missions. The Remora ARQ is priced at $1,250 per unit and features onboard autonomy for GPS-denied environments. It also includes an intelligence software stack that plugs into networked unmanned-systems ecosystems.

The company was co-founded by CEO Shawn Theiss, a UAV designer with three decades of defense drone experience, and executive chairman Yon Raz-Fridman.

Why This Matters for Defense Tech

Agilis Air's focus on domestic manufacturing and NDAA compliance addresses growing demand for secure, reliable drone systems within the U.S. defense sector. By producing entirely in the United States on a domestic supply chain, the company aims to avoid foreign dependencies and meet regulatory requirements for government contracts.

The Remora ARQ's low unit cost and modular design could make it attractive for tactical reconnaissance missions where affordability and adaptability are critical. Its onboard autonomy for GPS-denied environments is particularly relevant for operations in contested or degraded signal areas.

Funding Details

• Round type: Seed
• Amount: $1,400,000 USD
• Announced: September 14, 2026
• Lead investor: Not disclosed
• Participating investors: Ohio Innovation Fund, North Coast Ventures, EagleNXT (AgEagle Aerial Systems), Vici Capital, John "Mike" Murray, Yon Raz-Fridman

About Agilis Air

Agilis Air is a defense technology company based in Youngstown, Ohio. It develops and manufactures low-cost, modular, NDAA-compliant drones and autonomy technologies entirely in the United States on a 100% domestic supply chain. Its flagship Remora ARQ is a Group 1 first-person-view aircraft built for reconnaissance and tactical missions, priced at $1,250 per unit, with onboard autonomy for GPS-denied environments and an intelligence software stack that plugs into networked unmanned-systems ecosystems. The company was co-founded by CEO Shawn Theiss and executive chairman Yon Raz-Fridman.

For more information, visit agilisair.com.