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Startup · United States

Merlin

HQ Boston, United StatesFounded 201951-200 employeesMRLN

Developer of aircraft-agnostic autonomy software; working with USSOCOM on C-130J autonomy.

StartupPrototypeAutonomy retrofits for crewed cargo aircraft
WebsiteLinkedIn
Total raised
$410M
4 rounds
Last round
$80.0M
Growth · Apr 29, 2026
Gov. awards
1
Amounts undisclosed
Products
1
Most mature: prototype
Technologies
1
Mentions
1
Latest Sep 14, 2026

Products1

Merlin Pilot

Aircraft-agnostic AI autonomous flight system for crewed and uncrewed aircraft.

Prototype

Newest unveiled first. Open a product for its milestone timeline, components and sources.

Technologies1

Maturity and TRL describe this organization's work; the field-wide maturity is on each technology's page.

Funding4 rounds · $410M

Disclosed
$410M
Latest
$80.0MGrowth · Apr 29, 2026
Cumulative raised$410M
May 26, 2021Apr 29, 2026

Totals add known amounts using recorded USD conversions where available; other currencies are shown separately. A ~ marks an estimated amount.

Government awards & programs1 award

Awards received1

  • 19-month tanker autonomy contract (KC-135 first)
    Undated · Contract
    From U.S. Air Force
    Undisclosed

Obligated is what has been committed so far; ceiling is the most the award can reach. Joint values cover all recipients and are excluded from this company’s money totals.

People1

Hiring observations33 listings

A sample of observed listings, not a total vacancy count. Availability may have changed since collection. Categories are inferred from job titles.

Company metrics

LinkedIn employee profiles
252
Observed Oct 5, 2026
Bright Data / LinkedIn · Source ↗
LinkedIn followers
24,055
Observed Oct 5, 2026
Bright Data / LinkedIn · Source ↗

Employee-profile counts reflect LinkedIn profiles associated with the company, not verified headcount. One observation establishes a baseline; it does not establish growth.

News1

Open in the news feed →

Sources11

Profile2

  1. 1
    OtherMerlin Labs - Black Flag Job Board

    Black Flag · Supports Organization

    “Develops AI-powered autonomous flight technology that enables aircraft to operate without a human pilot, serving both civil and military aviation with a focus”
  2. 2
    DatabaseMerlin — linkedin profile

    Linkedin via Bright Data · Supports Organization · company size, Organization · founded, Organization · logo, Organization · url

    “{"company_size": "51-200 employees"}”

Products1

  1. 3
    NewsMerlin Labs’ public offering collects $200M to build an AI autopilot for any aircraft

    Washington Technology · Mar 18, 2026 · Supports System

    “The company has developed Merlin Pilot, an AI tool that the company says is aircraft-agnostic and can fly any plane”

Technologies1

  1. 4
    CompanyMerlin Successfully Completes Critical Design Review for C-130J Autonomy Program with USSOCOM

    Merlin via GlobeNewswire · Jun 4, 2026 · Supports Organization, Organization technology

    “Merlin, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRLN), an aerospace and defense technology company building the operating system of record for autonomous flight”

Funding5

  1. 5
    CompanyMerlin, Inc. Announces $80 Million PIPE Investment to Accelerate Program Execution and Unlock New Growth Opportunities

    Merlin (GlobeNewswire) · Apr 29, 2026 · Supports Funding round · amount

    “to raise $80 million of equity capital via a private investment in public equity”
  2. 6
    NewsMerlin IPO Raises $200 Million for Autonomous Flight Goals

    AIN · Mar 17, 2026 · Supports Funding round

    “has raised $200 million by closing its SPAC-backed business combination with Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. IV”
  3. 7
    CompanyMerlin and Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. IV Announce Closing of Business Combination

    Merlin · Mar 16, 2026 · Supports Funding round · amount, Funding round · post money valuation usd

    “The transaction provides approximately $200 million in gross proceeds”
  4. 8
    CompanyAutonomous Flight Company Merlin Labs Raises $105m Series B, Announces Partnership with USAF

    PR Newswire · Jul 13, 2022 · Supports Funding round, Funding round · amount

    “Merlin's 2021 $25 million Series A round led by GV and First Round Capital”
  5. 9
    CompanyMerlin Labs Announces $25M Funding Round and Partnership to Bring Autonomy to 55-Aircraft Fleet

    Dynamic Aviation · May 26, 2021 · Supports Funding round · amount

    “it has raised $25 million in funding from GV (formerly Google Ventures) and First Round Capital”

Government1

  1. 10
    NewsAir Force Eyes Merlin Autonomy System for Entire Tanker Fleet

    FLYING Magazine · Dec 11, 2024 · Supports Government award

    “The U.S. Air Force has contracted Merlin Labs to develop self-flying capabilities for its tanker fleet, beginning with the KC-135 Stratotanker.”

People1

  1. 11
    DatabaseMerlin — crunchbase profile

    Crunchbase via Bright Data · Supports Role · founders

    “{"founders": [{"id": "matt-george-d808", "type": "person", "value": "Matthew George"}]}”

Each fact on this page is attached to the sources that support it. Archived copies are linked when we keep one.