A young Hampton Roads startup is making waves in the world of aerospace innovation. Tidal Flight, Inc., founded in 2023, has been selected for a $1.25M Direct to Phase II (D2P2) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from AFWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Air Force. The contract will fund the development of an “iron bird” prototype for Polaris, Tidal Flight’s hybrid-electric amphibious aircraft designed to serve both commercial and defense missions.
The selection marks a major milestone not only for Tidal Flight, but also for the Hampton Roads region, a growing hub for dual-use and deep-tech innovation. From their base in Hampton, Virginia, co-founders Jude Augustine, Pranav Krishnamurthy, and Mark Lau are working on what they call “the future of coastal mobility.”
Their aircraft, Polaris, is envisioned as a 9–12 passenger hybrid-electric amphibious aircraft that is capable of takeoff and landing on both land and water. While its potential for sustainable regional air travel is clear, the aircraft’s defense applications, particularly in distributed, forward environments, can align with the Air Force’s modernization priorities.
Tidal Flight’s SBIR selection underscores the momentum building in Hampton Roads’ entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem. The region, historically known for its shipbuilding, maritime, and defense industries, is now emerging as a powerhouse for next-generation aerospace, autonomy, and energy technologies; areas increasingly supported by organizations like the Commonwealth’s Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) and the REaKTOR technology innovation center located in the City of Hampton.
Through initiatives like VIPC’s Regional Innovation Fund (RIF) and SBIR/STTR support programs, Virginia has become one of the top states for small businesses competing for federal R&D funding. These efforts are helping startups like Tidal Flight, many of them led by young, first-time entrepreneurs, bridge the gap between prototype and product, and between regional innovation and national impact.
AFWERX’s “Open Topic” SBIR/STTR program, launched in 2018, has transformed how small businesses like Tidal Flight engage with the Department of the Air Force. By streamlining the contracting process and encouraging nontraditional applicants, the program accelerates the transition of emerging technologies into defense capabilities while also opening new pathways for commercial innovation.
Since 2019, AFWERX has fueled the growth of the U.S. defense innovation base, fostering collaboration between startups, research institutions, and government stakeholders.
For Tidal Flight, this award represents the next stage of a journey that began with a bold idea: to make flight more sustainable, accessible, and strategically adaptable. For Hampton Roads, it’s another signal that a new generation of founders is turning coastal Virginia into a launchpad for technologies that will define the future of defense and mobility.
With innovators like Tidal Flight at the helm, Virginia’s skies look brighter than ever.
Click here to see the official press release: https://www.tidalflight.com/news/tidal-flight-awarded-afwerx-direct-to-phase-ii-contract-to-further-development-of-the-polaris-hybrid-electric-amphibious-aircraft
Note: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of War, or the U.S. government.
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