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BLADE has raised $54.9M across 5 funding rounds.
Key people at BLADE.
BLADE was founded in 2019 by Steve Martocci (Co-Founder).
BLADE has raised $54.9M in total across 5 funding rounds.
Based in New York City, Blade Air Mobility is a technology platform that brokers short-distance urban air mobility services by connecting passengers with licensed third-party helicopter and private jet operators. The company utilizes an app-based brokerage model to offer scheduled, per-seat flights to premium resort destinations such as the Hamptons, Miami, and Aspen, charging fares of approximately $795 for specific routes. After initially going public through a SPAC merger at a valuation of nearly $1 billion in May 2021, the firm's passenger division was acquired by Joby Aviation for $125 million in August 2025. Prior to this strategic acquisition, the aviation platform secured financial backing from prominent media and technology executives, including David Zaslav, Barry Diller, Eric Schmidt, and Robert Pittman. Blade Air Mobility was originally founded in 2014 by Robert S. Wiesenthal.
# BLADE: Clarifying Two Different Companies
Your query references "BLADE" as a technology company, but the search results reveal two distinct entities with this name, operating in entirely different sectors. I'll address both to provide complete clarity.
BLADE Network Technologies was a networking hardware manufacturer that supplied Ethernet switches for data center infrastructure.[1] Founded in 2006 as a spin-out from Nortel's Blade Server Switch Unit, the company focused on top-of-rack switching solutions for blade servers and data center environments.[1] IBM acquired BLADE in October 2010, and the company was subsequently transferred to Lenovo in 2014 as part of Lenovo's acquisition of IBM's x86 server division.[1]
This entity is no longer independently operating—it exists as part of Lenovo's infrastructure portfolio.
Blade Technologies is a managed IT services provider headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.[2][3] Founded officially in 2004 through the merger of Networx (established 1995) and Schowalter & Jabouri Computer Solutions, the company provides enterprise-level IT support and consulting services to businesses throughout the Midwest.[2]
The company has expanded significantly since its 2004 founding, acquiring Network Data Solutions in 2011 and establishing itself as a regional leader in managed IT services.[2]
BLADE was founded in 2019 by Steve Martocci (Co-Founder).
BLADE has raised $54.9M in total across 5 funding rounds.
BLADE's investors include Accel, C2 Investment, Casa Verde Capital, Cedar Capital Group, Coatue, Craft Ventures, Founders Fund, Goat Capital, Greenoaks Capital, Hanabi Capital, Matrix, Outcast Ventures.
BLADE has raised $54.9M across 5 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $4.0M Seed in August 2019.
| Date | Company | Round | Lead Investor(s) | Co-Investor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2015 | WiGo | $3.0M Seed | Great Oaks Venture Capital | Chloe Sladden, First Round Capital, Great Oaks Venture Capital, Menlo Ventures, Redpoint Ventures, Shasta Ventures, Trucks Venture Capital, Douglas Carlisle, Brian Guttman, Jean Pigozzi, GGV Capital, Greylock Partners, KEC Ventures |
Key people at BLADE.
