XTI Aerospace Acquires Drone Nerds and Secures $25 Million Investment from Unusual Machines
XTI Aerospace, Inc. (Nasdaq: XTIA), a leader in vertical flight technologies and developer of the TriFan 600 VTOL aircraft, has announced the acquisition of Drone Nerds, LLC, one of the largest U.S.-based drone distributors. The acquisition, finalized on November 10, 2025, marks a significant milestone in XTI’s strategy to expand its capabilities in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and the broader Vertical Economy™.
Drone Nerds, with over $100 million in 2024 revenue and a decade of profitability, brings extensive expertise in UAS solutions, including hardware, software, and enterprise drone services. The acquisition was valued at approximately $40 million, comprising $20 million in cash, $11.9 million in promissory notes, and $9.7 million in equity consideration. The equity portion, representing 19.9% of XTI’s pre-acquisition common shares, will be exchangeable for XTI stock starting May 2026, with a lock-up period until November 2026.
Simultaneously, XTI secured a $25 million strategic investment from Unusual Machines, Inc. (NYSE American: UMAC), a leading supplier in the drone industry. The investment involved the issuance of 25,000 shares of Series 10 Convertible Preferred Stock, convertible into XTI common stock upon shareholder approval.
Scott Pomeroy, CEO of XTI, emphasized the acquisition as a pivotal step in building a comprehensive portfolio of vertical flight and UAS capabilities. “Drone Nerds significantly enhances our scale, recurring revenue, and operational footprint,” he stated.
Jeremy Schneiderman, CEO of Drone Nerds, highlighted the alignment with XTI’s vision, noting the potential to expand enterprise business and influence in autonomous flight and drones-as-a-service. “As part of XTI, we are well-positioned to support our customers with unmatched expertise and innovative solutions,” Schneiderman added.
Allan Evans, CEO of Unusual Machines, expressed confidence in the partnership, citing the opportunity to shape the domestic drone landscape amid increasing U.S. restrictions on Chinese drone companies.
The collaboration aligns with the June 2025 White House Executive Order on domestic drone development, reinforcing U.S. leadership in aerospace innovation. Together, XTI and Drone Nerds aim to deliver cost efficiencies, speed, and competitive advantages across sectors such as logistics, emergency response, defense, energy, and infrastructure.
ThinkEquity served as the exclusive M&A advisor to XTI and placement agent for the $25 million investment. Details of the transactions will be disclosed in a forthcoming SEC Form 8-K filing.
About XTI Aerospace, Inc.
XTI Aerospace is revolutionizing aviation with its TriFan 600 xVTOL aircraft, combining helicopter-like vertical takeoff with the speed and range of a fixed-wing plane. The company also offers real-time location systems (RTLS) through its Inpixon business unit. Learn more at xtiaerospace.com.
About Drone Nerds, LLC
Founded in 2014, Drone Nerds provides tailored drone solutions for enterprise, government, and recreational use. Its Always Flying™ program ensures reliability across industries like public safety, agriculture, construction, and energy. Visit dronenerds.com for more information.
About Unusual Machines
Unusual Machines primarily serves the American drone industry by building and selling drone components. In February 2024 they acquired FPV market leader Fat Shark, which designs and manufactures ultra-low latency video goggles for drone pilots, and Rotor Riot, a drone-focused e-commerce marketplace backed by one of the largest communities of FPV drone pilots in the world. In short, Fat Shark makes the drone components and Rotor Riot sells them. For more information visit www.unusualmachines.com.
