magniX
Facts
- HQ
- Everett, Wash.
- Sectors
- Aerospace, Electric propulsion, Clean energy
Nimbus Aerospace tests quarter-scale NX1 prototype in Oregon, targets 2028 full-scale flights and late‑2030 deliveries
Seattle-based Nimbus Aerospace completed two test flights of its quarter-scale NX1 hybrid-electric prototype in Oregon this summer, validating manufacturing and aerodynamic goals as it engineers a full-scale build aimed for 2028 and customer deliveries by late 2030.
Hydrogen Aviation Startup ZeroAvia Scales Back U.S. Operations, CEO and Several Executives Depart Amid Strategic Shift
ZeroAvia, a hydrogen aviation startup backed by Bill Gates and Amazon, has scaled back its ambitions by ceasing most operations in Washington and California, shifting product development to the UK, and experiencing executive departures, including CEO Val Miftakhov. Despite these setbacks, the company maintains its mission to advance hydrogen-electric powertrains for aviation and seeks to adjust its pace and focus according to market conditions.
Seattle’s Nimbus Aerospace Flies 10th-Scale Electric Jet Demonstrator in Tulsa, Targeting 2032 Production
Seattle-based startup Nimbus Aerospace successfully completed a 1-minute 23-second demonstrator flight of a 10th-scale model for its electric-powered business jet in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The company aims to develop a six-to-eight seat electric jet with a range of 1,100 miles and plans FAA certification and production by 2032.
First Mode Plans Layoffs of Up to 50% of Workforce Starting August 2024 Amid Strategy Shift
Seattle-based clean-tech company First Mode has warned employees of a significant layoff affecting up to 50% of its global workforce, with notifications starting the week of August 5, 2024. The layoffs follow a strategic shift from hydrogen to hybrid diesel-battery powertrains as part of ongoing business optimizations.
Kevin Conroy Resigns from Adaptive Biotechnologies Board; Tagboard COO Tyler Singletary Steps Down; Ron Andrews Named TwinStrand CEO
Kevin Conroy resigned from the board of Adaptive Biotechnologies, and Tagboard's COO Tyler Singletary is stepping down. Additionally, Ron Andrews was named CEO of TwinStrand Biosciences, while David Meininger stepped down as CEO of Link Immunotherapeutics.
ZeroAvia Expands Hydrogen Aviation R&D in Washington with $350K State Grant; Twelve Builds Low-Emission Jet Fuel Plant
ZeroAvia is expanding its hydrogen-powered aviation R&D in Everett, Washington, supported by a $350,000 state grant and a partnership with Alaska Airlines. Meanwhile, Twelve is building a commercial synthetic jet fuel facility in Moses Lake, aiming to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 90% using renewable energy.
GeekWire Awards Launch Sustainable Innovation Category Featuring Five Pacific Northwest Finalists, Winners Announced May 18
GeekWire Awards introduced a new Sustainable Innovation of the Year category highlighting five Pacific Northwest companies developing technologies to protect the planet, with winners announced on May 18. Public voting is open until May 1 for finalists including Eviation, Membrion, Pure Watercraft, Recompose, and Zap Energy.
Eviation's All-Electric Alice Airplane Completes First Successful Test Flight in Moses Lake
Eviation's all-electric Alice airplane completed its first successful eight-minute test flight in Moses Lake, Washington, impressing test pilot Steve Crane with its responsiveness and smooth handling. The flight marks a significant milestone in developing more efficient and sustainable aviation powered by electric propulsion.
Flying Fish Launches Alberta Office with Tiffany Linke-Boyko, Secures $7.5M from Alberta Enterprise; Panopto Names Tobias Hartmann CEO
Flying Fish appointed Tiffany Linke-Boyko as principal to lead its new Alberta office, its first outside Seattle, backed by a $7.5 million investment from Alberta Enterprise Corporation within a $70 million fund. Additionally, Panopto hired Tobias Hartmann as CEO to lead its enterprise video platform company based in Seattle.
Roei Ganzarski named president and CEO of Alitheon to lead FeaturePrint digital fingerprinting venture
Roei Ganzarski, former CEO of MagniX and executive chairman of Eviation Aircraft, has been named president and CEO of Alitheon, a Bellevue startup that uses its FeaturePrint image-based technology to create digital fingerprints for physical products and fight counterfeiting.
ZeroAvia opens R&D center at Everett’s Paine Field; $5.5M refit and $350K Washington grant support hydrogen-electric powertrain work
ZeroAvia is opening an R&D center at Everett’s Paine Field near Seattle to develop hydrogen-electric aircraft powertrains, with plans to begin customer rollouts in 2024 and potentially build a North American manufacturing hub there. The Paine Field site converts warehouse space into offices and labs, received a $350,000 Washington grant, and will employ 20–30 people initially while ZeroAvia pursues larger-scale manufacturing and powertrains for bigger aircraft.
Amazon’s $2B Climate Pledge Fund Invests in Hippo Harvest and Amogy to Cut Grocery and Shipping Emissions
Amazon’s $2 billion Climate Pledge Fund has invested in two climate tech startups — Hippo Harvest, which develops closed-loop greenhouse systems using robotics and ML to cut water use and emissions, and Amogy, which converts ammonia into power for heavy transport — part of Amazon’s push to reach net zero by 2040. The moves aim to reduce emissions across Amazon’s grocery stores and shipping operations amid rising company emissions.
GeekWire names winners at 2021 Awards; SeekOut wins Startup of the Year after $65M raise
The 2021 GeekWire Awards returned as a virtual event honoring over 60 finalists across 14 categories from the Pacific Northwest tech community, featuring celebrity cameos and performances. Winners included SeekOut as Startup of the Year, and among 16 winners eight were women and five were people of color and/or immigrant entrepreneurs.
Sally Jewell named Edward V. Fritzky chair at UW Foster; Riveter CEO Amy Nelson relocates to Columbus; other exec moves
A roundup of leadership moves: former Interior Secretary Sally Jewell will be the Edward V. Fritzky endowed chair at UW Foster School for 2021–22; Riveter CEO Amy Nelson is relocating to Columbus but will remain with the company; and several other executives (including Jeff Blackburn, Randy Tinseth, and Vinayak Hegde) are taking new roles or joining boards.
Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures invests $24.3M in ZeroAvia, lifting private funding past $53M
Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures led a follow-up $24.3 million investment in ZeroAvia’s hybrid hydrogen-electric aircraft powertrains, joining prior investors and bringing the company’s total private funding to more than $53 million and nearly $74 million including grants. ZeroAvia plans a 19-seat hydrogen-electric demonstration by 2023, commercialization of a 600 kW powertrain in 2024, and a 2 MW program targeting 50+ seat aircraft by 2026.
MagniX Moves Into 40,000 sq ft Everett Plant to Build Motors for Eviation’s All‑Electric Alice, Targets Summer Test Flights
MagniX has relocated its operations into a new 40,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Everett, Washington, to produce electric motors for the all-electric Eviation Alice commuter aircraft, with work starting within weeks. The company aims to have the first MagniX-powered Alices ready for summer test flights and is hiring several dozen workers as it consolidates operations near Eviation's Arlington plant.
Roei Ganzarski
Roei is CEO of magniX, an electric propulsion technology company, poised to disrupt the aerospace industry with its advanced electric engines that will enable transportation capabilities and services never possible before. We dig into Roei's leadership style, and learn about how his experiences in the military, corporate finance, and time at the Boeing Company and Bold IQ all brought him to wear he is today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
MagniX and Universal Hydrogen to Retrofit Dash 8s with 2 MW Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Electric Propulsion, Cutting Capacity to 40 Seats
MagniX is partnering with Universal Hydrogen to retrofit de Havilland Canada DHC8-Q300 (Dash 8) regional aircraft with hydrogen fuel-cell–powered, 2-megawatt-class electric propulsion systems, reducing capacity from 50 to 40 seats. The program could extend to ATR 42 family retrofits and complements MagniX’s existing work on smaller all-electric aircraft.
GeekWire Awards 2020 Goes Virtual; Ally Wins Startup of the Year as Bill Gates and Celebrities Celebrate
GeekWire held a virtual GeekWire Awards livestream honoring top Pacific Northwest tech companies and leaders across 12 categories, with winners accepting via Zoom and special video messages from figures like Bill Gates. Seattle startup Ally won Startup of the Year, and the event included entertainment such as The Drunken Tenorperforming an "Opera di Zoom."
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Roei Ganzarski Executive, CEO
