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Unusual Machines

HardwareOrlando, Florida, United StatesFounded 2019· One of 1702 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse

Publicly traded drone component manufacturer serving the American drone industry with NDAA-compliant FPV drone parts and systems

CEO / Founder
Allan Evans
Team Size
51-200
Stage
Public
Total Funding
Publicly Traded
Latest Round
Post-IPO
Key Investors
Dominari Securities; JonesTrading; Ondas Inc.; Retail investors via NYSE American (UMAC)

Technology & Products

Key Products

Fat Shark HDO+ FPV goggles; Aura analog camera module; Aura VTX; Brave F7 flight controller; Brave 55A 4-in-1 ESC; full line of drone motors built in USA; Rotor Riot e-commerce marketplace for FPV drone parts

Technological Advantage

Domestic US manufacturing of drone components (motors, flight controllers, ESCs) compliant with NDAA and Blue UAS standards; vertically integrated through Fat Shark (design/manufacturing) and Rotor Riot (e-commerce distribution); strong brand equity in FPV community

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Designs, manufactures, and sells NDAA-compliant drone components (motors, flight controllers, ESCs, FPV goggles, cameras, VTX) built in the USA, serving as a non-Chinese supply chain alternative for the American drone industry

How They Differentiate

Unlike competitors focused on complete drone platforms, Unusual Machines is a pure-play component supplier (motors, flight controllers, ESCs, goggles) with a strong consumer FPV community via Rotor Riot and Fat Shark brands, and a specific focus on NDAA-compliant US manufacturing

Market & Competition

Target Customers

FPV drone enthusiasts, enterprise drone operators, defense contractors, public safety agencies, and drone manufacturers requiring NDAA-compliant components

Industry Verticals

Consumer FPV drones; Defense; Public safety; Enterprise inspection; Drone delivery

Competitors

Red Cat Holdings (RCAT); Ondas Holdings (ONDS); Skydio

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

Revenue grew from approximately $5.6M in 2024 to $11.2M in 2025 (101% YoY growth); team grew from approximately 20 to approximately 140 employees in 2 years; over $220M cash on hand as of early 2026

Major Milestones

Founded July 2019; IPO on NYSE American Feb 14, 2024 ($4/share); Acquired Fat Shark and Rotor Riot from Red Cat Holdings Feb 2024 ($13.5M); Donald Trump Jr. joined advisory board Nov 2024; Raised $40M public offering May 2025; Raised $150M public offering March 2026

Notable Customers

Red Cat Holdings; Powerus ($5M+ order); US Army (defense contracts via Lantronix partnership)

https://www.unusualmachines.com

Recent coverage of Unusual Machines

Why this company matters

Unusual Machines designs and manufactures NDAA-compliant drone components in the United States, positioning itself as a domestic alternative to Chinese suppliers in the American drone supply chain. The company went public on NYSE American in early 2024 and has since scaled revenue from $5.6M to $11.2M year-over-year, driven by legislative tailwinds such as the American Security Drone Act. Its product line includes motors, flight controllers, ESCs, FPV goggles, cameras, and VTX modules built to Blue UAS standards.

The company's core technology advantage lies in vertical integration through two acquired brands: Fat Shark, which provides design and manufacturing heritage in FPV goggles and video systems, and Rotor Riot, an e-commerce marketplace for FPV drone parts. This structure allows Unusual Machines to control both production and distribution, serving consumer FPV enthusiasts alongside defense contractors and public safety agencies. Notable customers include Red Cat Holdings and the US Army via a Lantronix partnership, with a $5M+ order from Powerus.

Unlike platform-focused competitors such as Skydio or Red Cat, Unusual Machines operates as a pure-play component supplier, giving it a differentiated position in the NDAA-compliant supply chain. The company has over $220M cash on hand and a team that grew from roughly 20 to 140 employees in two years. CEO Allan Evans, a former COO of Red Cat and ex-CEO of Fat Shark, brings deep domain expertise in AR/VR displays and drone electronics. The key strategic question is whether the company can maintain its community-driven FPV brand equity while scaling defense and enterprise contracts without becoming overly reliant on a few large orders.

Competitive risks include the potential for Chinese manufacturers to establish US-based production, or for platform companies to vertically integrate component manufacturing. Unusual Machines' moat rests on its NDAA compliance, domestic production capability, and the entrenched Rotor Riot and Fat Shark brands within the FPV community. The addition of Donald Trump Jr. to the advisory board in late 2024 signals an intent to deepen ties with defense and policy circles.