REGENT secures $240 million Series B funding to scale Seaglider manufacturing and transform maritime mobility

• REGENT raises $240 million in Series B funding co-led by Mare Liberum and AE Ventures, with debt capital provided by Erebor Bank, to accelerate manufacturing in response to growing defense contracts and commercial demand across the Viceroy and Squire Seaglider™ product lines.
• Funding comes in anticipation of a series of imminent company milestones, including the first human flight of the Viceroy Seaglider prototype and commencement of production at REGENT's 255,000-square-foot Seaglider Manufacturing Facility.
• The new funding round brings REGENT to $340 million raised to date across equity and debt.
• Learn more about REGENT here and explore images and video here.  

North Kingstown, R.I., August 27, 2026 — REGENT Craft, the developer and manufacturer of Seaglider™ vessels, announced today it has raised $240 million, an equal mix of equity and debt, in a Series B funding round co-led by Mare Liberum and AE Ventures, with debt capital provided by Erebor Bank, marking a major milestone in REGENT's growth as it transitions from early-stage development toward full-scale manufacturing.  

Reflecting strong investor conviction in REGENT’s future, the round closes in anticipation of a series of imminent milestones for the company, including the first human flight of its Viceroy prototype, new military partnerships, and commencement of manufacturing operations from its recently completed 255,000-square-foot Seaglider Manufacturing Facility.  

Momentum is building on both the defense and commercial sides of the business, reinforcing REGENT's position heading into full-scale manufacturing. The company has seen growing military interest across its product line, driven by the Department of War's prioritization of maritime theatres. This includes an expanded US Marine Corps contract for the Viceroy Seaglider platform and rising interest in the autonomous Squire platform. In addition, REGENT has grown a global commercial order book spanning six continents and booked multiple years of manufacturing capacity.  

The investment follows a year of significant technical and commercial progress for REGENT, including the completion of its 255,000-square-foot Seaglider Manufacturing Facility in Rhode Island, the successful military demonstrations of its Squire autonomous Seaglider drone, an increase in military contracts and interest across its Seaglider family of systems, and the announcement of its first commercial U.S. delivery and launch partner, The Twenty Five.

"This investment marks a critical inflection point for REGENT as we move from development into production,” said Billy Thalheimer, co-founder and CEO of REGENT. “We have built significant momentum across both our defense and commercial pipelines, and this funding enables us to scale manufacturing, execute key certification milestones, and deliver Seagliders to customers. We could not have asked for stronger lead investors, combining the industry-leading maritime expertise of Mare Liberum with the unquestioned aerospace leadership of AE Ventures.”  

Backed by maritime, aviation, and defense leaders

The round brings together investors with deep roots in maritime, aviation, and national security, reflecting the breadth of Seaglider's applications across commercial and defense markets.

Mare Liberum is an investment firm dedicated to advancing stability and strategic advantage at sea. The firm invests at the intersection of critical technologies and the maritime domain, reflecting the growing strategic importance of REGENT’s Seaglider technology to the future of maritime defense. Mare Liberum is deepening its commitment to REGENT, having participated in prior financing rounds.

“As maritime defense priorities evolve, operators need new capabilities that deliver greater speed, reach, and flexibility,” said Admiral Lorin Selby, General Partner at Mare Liberum. “REGENT is a leader in this emerging category with a strong track record of technical development and growing engagement with defense customers. By combining our expertise in maritime technology and national security with REGENT’s innovative leadership and proven ability to deliver, we are well positioned to accelerate the next phase of Seaglider technology and its adoption across the defense market.”

AE Ventures, the venture capital platform of AE Industrial Partners, brings extensive expertise built over many years supporting businesses that develop mission-critical capabilities across the aerospace and national security markets. REGENT joins an AE Ventures portfolio of early-stage companies tackling some of the most complex challenges across these markets.  

“REGENT is addressing a critical gap in maritime defense operations, and the progress made since the establishment of REGENT Defense — including the first flight of Squire and the completion of its manufacturing facility — positions the business for its next phase of growth,” said Brian Schettler, Partner and Head of AE Ventures. "We look forward to partnering with the REGENT team as they scale manufacturing and pursue their next set of military and commercial milestones."

As a national bank built to serve the companies rebuilding America's industrial base — from defense and manufacturing to AI and advanced technology — Erebor Bank's participation as the debt provider reflects a broader bet on the U.S. reclaiming manufacturing leadership in critical, dual-use technologies, and on REGENT as one of the companies poised to lead it.

"Rebuilding America's industrial base means banking the companies actually willing to build things again," said Owen Rapaport, co-founder and CEO of Erebor Bank. “REGENT is proof that American manufacturing can still move at startup speed. We're proud to back a team turning a bold engineering bet into the real production lines this country needs."

Other new investors, including DCVC, bring a track record of backing deep-tech companies at the intersection of engineering and national security. Existing investors, including Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, Lockheed Martin Ventures, Japan Airlines, and Giant Step Capital, supported the round, demonstrating continued confidence in REGENT's technology, commercial strategy and long-term vision.  

Growing Seaglider demand worldwide

The investment supports REGENT's expanding international presence across key commercial and defense markets. The company continues to deepen its partnership with the Strategic Development Fund, an Abu Dhabi-based investment company wholly owned by EDGE Group, as it plans early Seaglider operations and future manufacturing expansion in the UAE.  

REGENT is also partnering with Balnord in Poland to address urgent defense requirements in the Baltic Sea and with iGrow in Greece to unlock commercial opportunities across the Aegean Islands, one of the largest coastal transportation markets on the planet.

About REGENT

REGENT is pioneering the future of maritime mobility through the development and manufacturing of Seaglider™ vessels, high-speed hydrofoiling wing-in-ground effect (WIG) craft that operate over the water within a wingspan of the surface, combining the speed of an aircraft with the convenience of a boat. A dual use company based in Rhode Island, U.S., REGENT has attracted growing military and commercial demand, including an expanded $15 million US Marine Corps contract for its Viceroy platform, rising interest in its autonomous Squire platform, and a global order book spanning six continents with multiple years of manufacturing capacity booked. REGENT has secured more than $340 million in funding commitments from investors including AE Ventures, Mare Liberum, Valor Equity Partners, Lockheed Martin, Japan Airlines, and Abu Dhabi’s Strategic Development Fund, with manufacturing financing from Erebor Bank.

REGENT Craft Press Team: regent@boldspace.com  

About Mare Liberum

Mare Liberum is an investment firm dedicated to advancing stability and strategic advantage at sea. We invest at the intersection of critical technologies and the maritime domain. Guided by deep domain expertise and a conviction that maritime resilience underpins economic and geopolitical security, Mare Liberum backs founders building next-generation maritime capability.

Mare Liberum Press Contact: Alexa Borislow, press@mareliberum.com  ‍

About AE Ventures

AE Ventures is the venture capital platform of AE Industrial Partners, a private investment firm with $9.4 billion of assets under management, as of June 30, 2026, focused on highly specialized markets including national security, aerospace and industrials. AE Ventures has completed over 50 investments in early-stage companies that benefit from the deep industry knowledge, operating experience, and network of relationships across the sectors where the firm invests.

AE Ventures Press Contact: Matt Conroy, Stanton Public Relations & Marketing, mconroy@stantonprm.com, (646) 502-3563

‍About Erebor

Erebor is an OCC-chartered, FDIC-insured national bank serving companies in defense, hard tech, energy, aerospace, robotics, AI, fintech, and digital assets. Erebor pairs direct access to experienced bankers with a modern banking platform, covering operating accounts, cash management, payments, and credit. The bank lends against domestic industrial capacity, holds only short-dated securities, and caps its loan book at 50% of deposits. Erebor was co-founded by Palmer Luckey and is backed by investors including Valor Equity Partners, Human Capital, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, 8VC, Andreessen Horowitz, and Haun Ventures.

‍Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. REGENT undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.