XTI Aerospace, a Colorado-based developer of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, has acquired Drone Nerds, one of the largest US drone distributors, in a $40 million deal and simultaneously secured a $25 million investment from Unusual Machines, a Florida-based drone manufacturer and investor whose advisory board includes Donald Trump Jr.
Announced on November 12, 2025, the deal for Drone Nerds includes $20 million in cash, $11.9 million in promissory notes, and $9.7 million in equity units convertible to 6.52 million XTI shares after May 2026.
Drone Nerds, founded in 2014, operates a US distribution and service network in Miami for drones and related technology. The company, which generated more than $100 million in revenue in 2024 and $55 million through June 2025, provides drone hardware, flight systems, and data-management platforms for enterprise, public-safety, and commercial customers.
Drone market expansion
Unusual Machines, a Florida-based drone component manufacturer, purchased a stake and made the strategic investment in XTI at the same time. The firm has recently been in the spotlight for its ties to the eldest son of US President Donald Trump, who joined Unusual Machines’ advisory board in late 2024 and holds a significant equity stake. Earlier this year the company secured a US Army contract to supply drone motors and parts, a deal that drew ethics-related scrutiny given the Trump Jr. connection.
According to XTI CEO Scott Pomeroy, the Drone Nerds acquisition “is a foundational step as we advance our strategy to build the most comprehensive portfolio of vertical flight and UAS capabilities in the industry.” Jeremy Schneiderman, CEO of Drone Nerds, added that the deal positions Drone Nerds “to define the entire domestic drone landscape” at a time when US regulators and policymakers are demanding reduced reliance on foreign, especially Chinese, drone systems.
TriFan 600 Development
The acquisition gives XTI an immediate foothold in the fast-growing US drone market and adds a new revenue stream alongside its TriFan 600 VTOL development program. Drone Nerds will continue operating under its own brand as part of XTI’s broader vertical flight and unmanned systems strategy.
The TriFan 600 is a hybrid-electric aircraft designed to combine the speed and range of a turboprop with the vertical takeoff and landing capability of a helicopter. First announced in 2015 by XTI Aircraft Company, the six-seat TriFan 600 uses three ducted fans that transition from vertical lift to horizontal flight. XTI says the aircraft will cruise at more than 260 knots with a range of up to 870 nautical miles and is aimed at business aviation and regional transport markets.
