Hydroplane
Hydroplane is an aerospace company developing modular hydrogen fuel cell powerplants designed to decarbonize aviation and provide zero-emission mobile energy storage.
- CEO / Founder
- Dr. Anita Sengupta
- Team Size
- 11-50
- Stage
- Active
- Total Funding
- $72.0M
- Latest Round
- Grant
- Key Investors
- U.S. Air Force (AFWERX), U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, California Energy Commission
Technology & Products
Key Products
Modular hydrogen fuel cell powerplants for single-engine general aviation aircraft; hydrogen fuel cell-based ground power units (GPUs) and auxiliary power units (APUs); zero-emission mobile energy storage.
Technological Advantage
Utilizes proprietary additive manufacturing (3D printing) to create complex internal geometries that optimize thermal management and weight, resulting in a significantly higher power-to-weight ratio than standard fuel cells.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Offers a zero-emission, high-endurance alternative to battery-electric systems with significantly faster refueling times and a modular 'drop-in' design that replaces traditional combustion engines.
How They Differentiate
Focuses on modular 'drop-in' hydrogen fuel cell powerplants specifically for single-engine general aviation aircraft (e.g., Piper Arrow), utilizing space-grade additive manufacturing for superior thermal management and power-to-weight ratios.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
General aviation aircraft owners, Urban Air Mobility (UAM) developers, regional airlines, and military branches (USAF, Army, Navy).
Industry Verticals
["Aerospace","Defense","Clean Energy","Logistics & Transportation"]
Competitors
ZeroAvia, H2FLY, Beyond Aero
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
Transitioned from R&D to prototype demonstration phase with over $70M in secured government and military backing.
Major Milestones
["Founded in 2020 by former NASA JPL rocket scientist Dr. Anita Sengupta","Secured AFWERX Agility Prime contract for decarbonizing aviation in 2021","Successful ground testing of 200-kW modular hydrogen fuel cell powerplant in 2023","Awarded U.S. Navy SBIR Phase 2 for Ground Power Unit (GPU) development in Sept 2024","Secured $70M in military funding for additive manufacturing and propulsion development in Mar 2025"]
Notable Customers
U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps