/Companies

Hermeus Mach 5 engine

Atlanta, US · Founded 2018 · 377 employees on LinkedIn · 14 known investors

Find your way into Hermeus Mach 5 engine

Sign up to see every warm intro you have to Hermeus Mach 5 engine

  • Paths you didn't know you had: your email and LinkedIn already hold routes to the Hermeus Mach 5 engine team. We find them for you
  • 2nd- and 3rd-degree connections: the friend-of-a-friend routes that take hours to manually find through your inbox or LinkedIn
  • Answers now, not in days: momentum is everything in a raise. Skip asking around whether someone knows someone

Days of research, done the moment you sign in, with every route ranked by how warm it is.

Hermeus is a high-speed aircraft manufacturer developing unmanned, hypersonic aircraft for defense and national security missions. The company works with the Department of War and other government organizations to deliver advanced aerospace capabilities.

Founders & leadership

Hermeus Mach 5 engine was founded in 2018 by AJ Piplica, Skyler Shuford, Erle Glenn Case IV, Anthony John Piplica, and Michael Smayda.

APAJ Piplica
AJ PiplicaCo-founder · ChairmanAJ Piplica is an aerospace engineer and entrepreneur who has led teams developing advanced aerospace systems from concept through flight testing. He founded Hermeus, a manufacturer of unmanned hypersonic aircraft for defense applications.
SSSkyler Shuford
Skyler ShufordFounderSkyler Shuford is a cofounder of Hermeus Corporation, which develops hypersonic aircraft. Previously, he held the role of Director of Avionics and Software at Generation Orbit, where he led the design and development of flight electronics and software systems, including guidance and control work on the X-60A experimental aircraft for the Air Force.
EG
Erle Glenn Case IVCo-founder
AJ
Anthony John PiplicaCo-founder
MSMichael Smayda
Michael SmaydaCo-founder · Consultant/Advisor
GC
Glenn CaseFounder
MS
Mike SmaydaFounder

Board

RB
Richard BoyleBoard director
SSSven Strohband
Sven StrohbandBoard directorInvestor at Khosla Ventures
WR
William RoperBoard director

Investors · 14

C5 CapitalreportedLondon

How we know: a partner's Signal profile · Not right? Tell us

Reported raises · per SEC filings

Form D private placements

$379.4M disclosed across 4 rounds · 2020–2025

▶$200.6MraisedApr 2026 · 70 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Skyler ShufordDirector
  • Sven StrohbandDirector
  • Anthony John PiplicaExecutive Officer, Director
  • William RoperDirector
  • Richard BoyleDirector
Offering amount
$200.6M
Amount sold
$200.6M
First sale
Aug 2025
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$119.6MraisedAug 2024 · 18 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Erle Glenn Case IVExecutive Officer
  • Anthony John PiplicaExecutive Officer, Director
  • Skyler ShufordExecutive Officer, Director
  • William RoperDirector
  • Richard BoyleDirector
  • Michael SmaydaExecutive Officer
  • Sven StrohbandDirector
Offering amount
$119.6M
Amount sold
$119.6M
Minimum investment
$15K
First sale
Mar 2022
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$19.2MraisedAug 2024 · 12 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Skyler Michael ShufordExecutive Officer, Director
  • Anthony John PiplicaExecutive Officer, Director
  • Sven StrohbandDirector
  • Richard BoyleDirector
  • Michael Gregory SmaydaExecutive Officer, Director
  • Erle Glenn Case, IVDirector
Offering amount
$19.2M
Amount sold
$19.2M
First sale
Oct 2020
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$40MraisedAug 2024 · 18 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Skyler ShufordExecutive Officer, Director
  • Richard BoyleDirector
  • Erle Glenn Case IVExecutive Officer
  • Sven StrohbandDirector
  • William RoperDirector
  • Anthony John PiplicaExecutive Officer, Director
  • Michael SmaydaExecutive Officer
Offering amount
$40M
Amount sold
$40M
Minimum investment
$1.9K
First sale
Jun 2024
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗

Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.

Related companies · 1

Companies working in the same space as Hermeus Mach 5 engine.

Non-dilutive funding · 1 SBIR/STTR award

Federal grants — no equity taken
AgencyPhaseYearAmount
U.S. Air ForceAir ForcePhase II2020$1000K

Source: SBIR.gov award data (U.S. Small Business Administration). SBIR/STTR awards are competitive federal R&D grants and contracts — non-dilutive capital alongside any venture rounds above.

Frequently asked questions

What does Hermeus Mach 5 engine do?
Hermeus is a high-speed aircraft manufacturer developing unmanned, hypersonic aircraft for defense and national security missions. The company works with the Department of War and other government organizations to deliver advanced aerospace capabilities.
Who founded Hermeus Mach 5 engine?
Hermeus Mach 5 engine was founded by AJ Piplica, Skyler Shuford, Erle Glenn Case IV, Anthony John Piplica, Michael Smayda in 2018.
Who are Hermeus Mach 5 engine's investors?
Hermeus Mach 5 engine's investors include Bling Capital, Brave Capital, Canaan Partners, Circadian Ventures, Crosscourt Ventures, Fundamental Ventures, Gaingels, Hyperguap and 6 more.
How much funding has Hermeus Mach 5 engine raised?
Hermeus Mach 5 engine has disclosed $379.4M raised across 4 rounds.
Where is Hermeus Mach 5 engine headquartered?
Hermeus Mach 5 engine is headquartered in Atlanta, US.