Parallel Flight Technologies (PFT), an unmanned systems startup working out of La Selva Beach near Watsonville, is developing pioneering heavy-lift solutions for wildland fire, medical delivery, agriculture, and construction applications. PFT was founded in 2018 by three local engineers working in Silicon Valley. Co-founder and CEO, Joshua Resnick, led electrical engineering for the Tesla Semi Truck program. The company is founded with a vision to build unmanned systems to save lives, property, and the environment. Their proprietary parallel-hybrid technology enables multi-rotor drones to fly for 10 times the duration of purely electric systems while carrying a heavy payload.

Parallel Flight has been awarded grants from NASA and the National Science Foundation for the further development of their proprietary technology. They have also engaged the public in their mission by raising over 1 million dollars via equity crowdfunding to support their funding. Resnick states, “Engaging the public in our mission is core to who we are a company, which is focused on the public good.”

After the successful demonstration of their prototype, heavy-lift drone platform in 2019, Parallel Flight Technologies has been focused on refining the technology and commercialization. The team is currently developing a beta level aircraft with plans to begin test flying this winter, and delivering to early-adopters in early 2021. In order to accelerate their path to market, the company has launched an equity crowdfunding campaign for accredited investors, which has already raised over $350K since its launch in June.