Palmer Luckey tried to crush aeronautics startup Salient Motion. But Anduril backer a16z invested.

Palmer Luckey tried to stop Salient Motion, but a16z backed it. Despite legal battles, Salient raised funds to innovate aerospace part designs.

: Palmer Luckey attempted to hinder Salient Motion, accusing them of stealing Anduril's code. The startup countersued and raised a $4 million seed round, bringing its total funding to $12 million. Key investors like a16z's Katherine Boyle remained supportive. Salient Motion aims to streamline the production of FAA-certified airplane parts.

Palmer Luckey, cofounder of Anduril, tried to crush Salient Motion by filing a lawsuit against them alleging they stole Anduril's code for their own use. Salient Motion, founded by ex-Anduril employees Vishaal Mali, Kai Yin, and Aiden Jenkins, countersued and maintained their innocence. Despite the legal battles which led to Yin leaving the company, Katherine Boyle from Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) remained supportive and continued to invest in Salient Motion's rounds, showcasing the startup's potential value despite Anduril's accusations.

In September 2023, Salient Motion successfully closed a $4 million seed round, led by Cantos Ventures and backed by other notable investors like a16z, AE Ventures, Hummingbird Ventures, and BoxGroup. This influx of capital brought their total funding to $12 million, signifying confidence in their innovative approach to the aerospace industry. Salient Motion's mission is to cut costs and production times by reusing software code for different aircraft parts, a strategy they believe can revolutionize the industry that suffers from inflated prices and mini-monopolies.

Salient Motion plans to use the new funds to scale their team and establish a manufacturing facility in Torrance, California, aiming to reduce part production times from two years to six months. They currently have about a dozen clients and secured a major partnership with a leading aircraft manufacturer. As they look forward, they are diplomatically open to future collaborations, including potentially with Anduril, depending on their roadmap and strategic goals.

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