The CEOs Behind America’s Next Frontier in Air & Sea Travel
Timestamps are as accurate as they can be but may be slightly off. We encourage you to listen to the full context.
Podcast Summary
This episode of Sorcery dives deep into the future of advanced mobility as three pioneering CEOs reveal how they're revolutionizing aviation and maritime transportation. Adam Goldstein of Archer unveils their electric vertical takeoff aircraft that will debut at the (17:26) LA 2028 Olympics, while Billy Thalheimer introduces Regent's cutting-edge seagliders that (31:01) fly eight times faster than traditional surface vessels. Meanwhile, Mitch Lee of Arc demonstrates how electric boats are transforming marine experiences with (53:01) triple redundancy systems and integrated software platforms—collectively showcasing American manufacturing's renaissance in next-generation mobility solutions.
Speakers
Adam Goldstein
CEO and Founder of Archer Aviation, building the next generation of vertical lift aircraft with both civil and defense applications. Former aerospace industry executive leading the first new FAA aviation category in 60 years, with commercial partnerships including United Airlines and the LA 2028 Olympics integration.
Billy Thalheimer
CEO and Founder of Regent, developing revolutionary seagliders that combine boat and plane capabilities. Former aerospace engineer who pivoted from eVTOL development, now building high-speed maritime vehicles for both commercial routes and defense applications with the Marine Corps and SOCOM.
Mitch Lee
Founder and CEO of ARC Boats, modernizing the maritime industry with fully electric and hybrid boats. Former SpaceX engineer leading a vertically integrated manufacturing operation in Los Angeles, having raised $100M from top Silicon Valley VCs including Andreessen Horowitz and Eclipse Ventures.
Key Takeaways
Scale Through Safety, Not Speed
Conservative flight test programs accelerate time-to-market by avoiding costly complications. Archer moved from zero to first customer delivery in 24 months while competitors took longer, proving that methodical approaches create steeper progress slopes. (12:32) Build redundancy into critical systems—Midnight has 12 sets of engines powered by six battery packs, ensuring single-point failures won't take the aircraft down.
Win One Market to Win the Country
Strategic market selection creates exponential visibility. Archer's "win LA, win the country" thesis positions them for maximum exposure during the 2028 Olympics with 41 million viewers per day across 19 days. (17:22) The FAA coined "Innovate '28" specifically to showcase these aircraft at scale, turning regulatory support into the world's largest advertisement.
Partner with Established Players, Not Competitors
Defense partnerships require deep technical expertise and government relationships that take years to build. Rather than competing directly, Archer partnered with Anduril to access the biggest programs available. (24:11) As a startup, "you have to figure out how to survive in this environment of uncertainty" while larger partners provide the credibility needed for major defense contracts.
Build Manufacturing Around Your Core Innovation
When creating category-defining products, vertical integration becomes essential. Arc Boats builds giant 226 kilowatt hour battery packs in-house because "when you build your own battery pack like that, you have to build the vessel around it or you're gonna end up with a very compromised product." (54:34) This approach enabled zero to first boat delivery in just three months.
Turn Execution Risk Into Venture Advantage
When technology and demand risks are solved, execution becomes the primary challenge—making it perfect for venture capital. As Arc's CEO explains, "when you have a business that is driven by execution risk, that is a great fit for venture capital because you already have all the conviction you need and you just need to hit go." (62:55) Focus fundraising efforts on demonstrating execution capability rather than market validation.
Statistics & Facts
- This is the first new category that's been created by the FAA in sixty years (referring to eVTOL aircraft). (03:21)
- If we looked at even the top thousand cities in the world, 20 aircraft per market. 20,000 aircrafts times $5,000,000. It's already a huge market. (05:27)
- A surface vessel today is gonna go 20 knots. A Seaglider can fly at a 160 knots or a 180 miles an hour, so we're eight times faster. (33:13)
