The hydrogen unicorn: Heven AeroTech raises $100M to scale long-endurance hydrogen drones
Heven AeroTech has officially become the hydrogen sectorâs newest unicorn.
The Virginiaâbased company has raised $100 million in a Series B round that now values the business at $1 billion, marking a major milestone for hydrogenâpowered aviation technology.
The round is led by IonQ, the NYSEâlisted quantum computing company, with returning support from Texas Venture Partners.
Hydrogen drones built for endurance
Founded in 2019, Heven AeroTech focuses on one thing: pushing aerial endurance far beyond the limits of heavy, shortârange battery drones.
The company builds hydrogen fuel cell propulsion systems for longâendurance unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Its flagship Z1 platform can fly for more than 10 hours and reach over 600 miles â a level of endurance that dramatically changes what drones can do for defence, public safety, and commercial operators.
These systems are designed for missions where battery-powered drones simply fall short. Hydrogen enables lighter energy storage, faster refuelling, and the kind of range that modern operations increasingly require.
A $100M raise to meet growing demand
Heven says the new capital will help it meet strong demand from the U.S. Special Operations Command, other combatant commands, and allied forces. They all need longâendurance aerial platforms with energy independence, especially for operations in contested environments.
CEO and founder Bentzion Levinson said the raise validates the companyâs progress so far:
âReaching unicorn status validates not just our technology, but our execution. This capital will enable us to scale U.S. manufacturing capacity, accelerate quantum-enabled capabilities across our platform, and deliver long-endurance hydrogen-powered systems at the speed and volume our national security customers demand. Weâre building for the battlefield of today and tomorrow.â
Where the investment is going
Heven AeroTech will deploy the Series B funding across three key areas:
1. U.S. manufacturing expansion
The company will grow domestic production capacity to meet rising demand and reduce supply chain risks.
2. Rapid fielding infrastructure
Heven plans to build out hydrogen generation and logistics systems that support long-term, forward-deployed drone operations.
3. Quantum-enabled avionics and autonomy
The company will develop nextâgeneration systems for:
- quantum-secure communications
- alternative navigation for GPSâdenied environments
- AI-driven autonomous operations
These technologies address critical needs identified by the Pentagon after recent conflicts, where GPS disruption and contested airspace dramatically shaped operational requirements.
Quantum partnership takes flight
The raise comes shortly after Heven announced a strategic partnership with IonQ. As part of this collaboration, Heven is creating a new quantum-focused engineering division. This team will integrate quantum computing capabilities directly into its UAS platforms.
The goal is to deliver enhanced positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) tools â vital for missions where conventional satellite-based systems can be jammed or degraded.
Why hydrogen gives Heven an edge
Hydrogen propulsion offers several advantages over battery-electric drones. Heven highlights:
- high energy density for extended flight
- fast refuelling in minutes
- zero emissions during operation
- greater safety, as hydrogen disperses quickly
- reduced dependency on scarce materials
- renewable origins, supporting long-term resilience
This combination gives hydrogen-powered drones a practical performance edge, especially for long-range or endurance-heavy missions.
A new era for hydrogen-powered aviation
With its new âhydrogen unicornâ status, Heven AeroTech is positioned as one of the most advanced players in zeroâemission, longâendurance UAS technology.
The companyâs next steps will shape how hydrogen integrates into defence aviation, commercial logistics, emergency response, and beyond.
And thanks to this Series B raise, Heven now has the capital to scale aggressively â bringing hydrogen-powered drones from niche innovation to mission-critical reality.
