Gazitua client REGENT closes a $240 million Series B and completes the world's first human-crewed Seaglider flight in Narragansett Bay.
Gazitua Letelier client REGENT closed a $240 million Series B financing round and completed the world's first human-crewed flight of its Viceroy Seaglider — two milestones the company announced together on September 2, 2026, marking its transition from prototype development into full-scale production.
A Pivotal Moment for REGENT
The Series B, split evenly between equity and debt, was co-led by Mare Liberum and AE Ventures, with debt financing provided by Erebor Bank. New investor DCVC, known for its focus on deep-tech and national security, joined a group of returning backers that includes Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, Lockheed Martin Ventures, Japan Airlines, Giant Step Capital, and the Strategic Development Fund. The round brings REGENT's total funding to $340 million.
"This investment marks a critical inflection point for REGENT as we move from development into production," said Billy Thalheimer, REGENT co-founder and CEO. "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."
Mare Liberum called REGENT "a leader in this emerging category with a strong track record of technical development and growing engagement with defense customers." They also added that "REGENT is proof that American manufacturing can still move at startup speed."
Read REGENT's full announcement: regentcraft.com/news
World's First Human-Crewed Seaglider Flight
The financing arrived alongside a milestone REGENT had been building toward for more than five years: the first flight of a Viceroy Seaglider with people aboard. On September 2, 2026, over Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island, two REGENT test captains flew the all-electric Viceroy roughly 1,956 feet (596 meters) at an altitude of 33 feet (10 meters) above the water, a 30-second flight that REGENT says marks the largest all-electric wing-in-ground-effect craft ever to fly with people aboard.
"This is the moment we have been envisioning and tirelessly pursuing for the past five and a half years," said Thalheimer. "REGENT has successfully proven safe, efficient ground-effect flight."
"Completing this flight test validates years of rigorous engineering and operational work and gives us the confidence to move into full-rate production," added Mike Klinker, REGENT co-founder and CTO.
The flight marks the start of REGENT's final-stage sea trials for the Viceroy platform.
Read REGENT's full announcement on the flight: regentcraft.com/news
From Prototype to Production
Both milestones arrive on the heels of a broader production ramp. REGENT recently completed a 255,000-square-foot Seaglider manufacturing facility in Rhode Island, expanded its contract with the U.S. Marine Corps by $15 million for the Viceroy platform, and has run successful military demonstrations of Squire, its autonomous Seaglider. REGENT's commercial order book now spans six continents, with multiple years of manufacturing capacity already booked.
Building REGENT's Presence in Miami
REGENT's growth builds on momentum the company first shared in Miami, where Gazitua helped introduce REGENT's full-scale Seaglider mock-up and its investment from Lockheed Martin Ventures back in 2023. Gazitua Letelier continues to support REGENT's work in Greater Miami, Miami-Dade County, and the City of Miami as the region prepares for future Seaglider operations.
"Building an entirely new category of maritime mobility is an ambitious undertaking," Luis Gazitua said. "Turning that ambition into vehicles, manufacturing capacity, military contracts, commercial customers, and a path to operations is something else entirely. There is a great deal of work ahead, but today is a milestone worth celebrating."
About REGENT
REGENT is leading the way in sustainable maritime transportation. Seagliders are hydrofoiling, wing-in-ground-effect vehicles that combine an airplane's speed with a boat's low operating cost, traveling exclusively over water and using existing dock infrastructure. Learn more at regentcraft.com.
About Gazitua
Gazitua Letelier is a Miami Government Relations and Miami Lobbying firm serving elected officials, businesses, international clients, technology organizations, and trade associations. Miami-Dade lobbying, advocacy, and Miami-Dade Bid Protest are our largest service areas, covering Miami, Miami-Dade, and her municipalities.