Charles Acknin, Co-Founder & CEO of Skyways

Charles Acknin co-founded Skyways with a vision to reshape logistics by building long-range, unmanned cargo aircraft. Under his leadership, Skyways aims to create a new class of autonomous aircraft capable of carrying meaningful payloads over vast distances—with hybrid electric/fuel propulsion, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), and mass production ambition.

Background & Founding Vision of Charles Acknin

Acknin brings a strong engineering background (including time at Google) and entrepreneurial drive to Skyways. He co-founded Skyways in 2017 (YC Summer 2017) with the mission to create unmanned cargo aircraft that go beyond existing drone payload/range limits. He recognized that the logistics market needed scalable aircraft, not just small drones, and he built Skyways’ strategy around high-performance autonomy and manufacturing readiness.

Skyways’ Platform & Strategic Differentiators

Under Acknin’s guidance, Skyways developed its V2 aircraft—already flying logistics missions—and is transitioning to the V3 platform which boasts up to 100 lbs payload, 1,000+ miles range, and 20+ hours endurance, using a hybrid electric/fuel “double-hybrid” design. Acknin emphasizes that the company flies full-scale aircraft early and self-funds much of development so that customers can see real capability, not slide decks.

Achievements & Milestones

• Skyways secured a $37 million contract from the U.S. Air Force’s AFWERX initiative, aimed at transitioning the V3 from prototype to full-rate production.

• The company also raised a $5 million debt facility from Leonid Capital Partners to accelerate production of autonomous cargo drones.

• Skyways participates in Y Combinator (Summer 2017) and has built a vertically-integrated model in Austin, Texas, targeting logistics at scale.

Charles Acknin’s Vision for the Future

Acknin sees a future where cargo drones are standard across industries—from defense logistics to commercial supply chains. He aims for Skyways to deploy a fleet large enough to reshape how goods move. His strategy: build proven systems first, then scale fast. With autonomy, manufacturing, and real payload capability in hand, he positions Skyways to become a “Program of Record” in aerial logistics.

Closing Thoughts

Charles Acknin is a leader with bold ambition and practical execution. By targeting high-payload, long-range unmanned logistics and securing major defense-industry contracts, he’s showing how drones can move from novelty to infrastructure. Skyways under his leadership may become a benchmark for next-generation aerial cargo systems.

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