Boston-Based Startup Raises $200 Million in Nasdaq Debut Amid Autonomous Aviation Push

Merlin, a Boston-based autonomous flight company, has completed its merger with Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. IV and begun trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker MRLN. The transaction brought in more than $200 million in gross proceeds and valued the company at about $1 billion. Founded in 2018, Merlin is developing its AI-powered Merlin Pilot system for a range of applications, including cargo operations with aircraft such as the Cessna Grand Caravan. According to AeroTime, the company’s efforts are part of a wider push to move autonomy from test and demonstration work into operational aviation use. Breaking Defense reports that Merlin says its core product is a ‘platform-adaptable hardware and software system’ designed to deliver ’takeoff-to-touchdown’ autonomy across different aircraft types.