# REGENT **Source:** https://geo.sig.ai/brands/regent **Vertical:** Transportation **Subcategory:** General **Tier:** Leader **Website:** regentcraft.com **Last Updated:** 2026-04-14 ## Summary Rhode Island all-electric seaglider maker flying in ground effect at 180+ mph for coastal routes; YC W21 $90M Founders Fund/8090-backed with $8B+ in orders from Japan Airlines and Mesa Airlines for 2026-27 delivery. ## Company Overview REGENT is a North Kingstown, Rhode Island-based aerospace and maritime company — backed by Y Combinator (W21) with $90 million raised including a $60 million Series A co-led by 8090 Industries and Founders Fund in October 2023 with strategic investments from Japan Airlines and Lockheed Martin — developing and manufacturing all-electric seagliders, a new vehicle category that combines the speed of aircraft with the simplicity of boats by flying in ground effect (within one wingspan of the water surface) on hydrofoils, enabling 180+ mph zero-emission coastal transit over water at costs competitive with ferries. Founded in 2020 by Billy Thalheimer and Mike Klinker (MIT aerospace engineers), REGENT has secured over $8 billion in commercial orders for 500+ seagliders from operators including Mesa Airlines, Brittany Ferries, and Pacific Basin Ferry, with deliveries expected to begin in 2026-2027. REGENT's seaglider technology operates in a physics regime unavailable to traditional aircraft or ferries: the Ekranoplan ground effect (when an aircraft flies very close to a surface, aerodynamic lift increases significantly while drag decreases) enables REGENT's seagliders to achieve aircraft-like speeds at 2-5x the energy efficiency of conventional aircraft — making electric propulsion viable for 100-180 mile coastal routes that exceed battery range for pure aircraft but require speeds much faster than ferries. The hydrofoil base (the seaglider uses hydrofoils to rise out of the water and accelerate to flying speed, then transitions to wing-borne ground effect flight) enables operation in wave conditions and provides the load flexibility for passenger, cargo, and mixed configurations. Because seagliders operate exclusively over water at low altitude, they are regulated as maritime vessels rather than aircraft in most jurisdictions — simplifying certification timelines compared to novel aircraft. In 2025, REGENT competes in the coastal mobility, sustainable aviation, and water transportation market with Hydrofoil ferry operators (Candela Speed Boat, T-Foil ferries), other ground effect vehicle startups, and helicopter operators (which currently serve some short coastal routes) for coastal transport infrastructure investment. Japan Airlines's and Lockheed Martin's strategic investment signals both aerospace industry validation and potential application beyond commercial ferry replacement (military logistics, island resupply, coast guard applications). The $8 billion in commercial pre-orders (signed letters of intent from ferry operators, regional airlines, and island transportation networks) reflects strong operator demand for a zero-emission solution to coastal routes where both ferries (too slow) and aircraft (too expensive and carbon-intensive) are suboptimal. The 2025 strategy focuses on completing the Vanguard full-scale seaglider prototype testing, achieving FAA and USCG regulatory certification, and beginning initial commercial deliveries with Mesa Airlines and Brittany Ferries. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is REGENT? REGENT is an electric seaglider manufacturer founded in 2020 that develops all-electric, hydrofoiling flying-boats for fast, affordable coastal transportation. The company creates ground-effect vehicles that operate within a wingspan of the water's surface, offering zero-emission aviation solutions. ### What products and services does REGENT offer? REGENT offers electric seagliders that combine hydrofoiling and ground-effect technology for coastal transportation. These vehicles are zero-emission, all-electric flying-boats designed to revolutionize short-distance maritime travel. ### Who are REGENT's target customers? REGENT serves airlines and ferry operators seeking fast, sustainable coastal transportation solutions. Current customers include Mesa Airlines, Brittany Ferries, and FRS Ferry. ### When was REGENT founded? REGENT was founded in 2020 and participated in Y Combinator's Winter 2021 (W21) cohort. ### Where is REGENT headquartered? REGENT is based in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, United States. ### How much funding has REGENT raised? REGENT has raised $90 million in total funding, including a $60 million Series A round in October 2023. The Series A was co-led by 8090 Industries and Founders Fund, with strategic investments from Japan Airlines Innovation Fund and Lockheed Martin. ### What are REGENT's key achievements and metrics? REGENT has secured over $8 billion in commercial orders for more than 500 seagliders from airline and ferry customers. This represents significant market validation for their electric seaglider technology. ### How does REGENT's seaglider technology work? REGENT's seagliders use hydrofoiling technology and operate in ground-effect, flying within a wingspan of the water's surface. The vehicles are all-electric, providing zero-emission coastal transportation. ### When will REGENT begin delivering seagliders to customers? REGENT expects to commence customer deliveries in 2026-2027. A full-scale manned prototype is scheduled to conduct sea trials in September 2025. ### What recent developments has REGENT announced? REGENT recently completed a $60 million Series A funding round in October 2023 and secured over $8 billion in orders for 500+ seagliders. The company is preparing for full-scale prototype sea trials in September 2025, with customer deliveries expected to begin in 2026-2027. ## Tags b2b, transportation, ev, hardware, startup, supply-chain --- *Data from geo.sig.ai Brand Intelligence Database. Updated 2026-04-14.*