Archer

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Archer Aviation was announced on May 15, 2025, as the Official Air Taxi Provider of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Team USA, making it the first eVTOL company to partner with the Olympic Movement. The exclusive partnership will integrate Archer's Midnight electric air taxi across the Games, transporting VIPs, fans, and stakeholders while electrifying vertiport hubs at key venues.

This is a first-of-its-kind sponsorship category. No prior Olympics has featured urban air mobility as a partner capability, positioning LA28 as a showcase for what Archer hopes will become a commercial transportation network in Los Angeles. The partnership also includes storytelling access across NBCUniversal's 2026 and 2028 Olympic Games coverage, including the 2028 Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Archer's November 2025 acquisition of Hawthorne Airport for $126 million, located three miles from LAX, signals the infrastructure commitment behind the deal.

The partnership carries meaningful execution risk. Archer's Midnight aircraft has not yet received FAA type certification, and the company remains pre-revenue. Whether air taxis actually fly during the Games depends on regulatory milestones between now and 2028.

1. OLYMPIC HISTORY & MARKETING PRESENCE

1.1 Partnership Timeline & Evolution

This is Archer Aviation's first Olympic sponsorship. The company was founded in 2018 and went public via SPAC merger on the NYSE (ticker: ACHR) in 2021. The LA28 partnership, announced May 2025, represents Archer's highest-profile brand partnership to date.

1.2 Milano Cortina 2026

No Milano Cortina 2026 activation identified. Archer's partnership is exclusively with the LA28 Games, where eVTOL air taxi service will be deployed. The company has no involvement in the Winter Games.

1.3 Signature Programs

No prior Olympic programs exist. The LA28 deal is Archer's inaugural activation in the sports sponsorship space. The partnership agreement includes:

• Transport of VIPs, fans, and stakeholders via Midnight eVTOL aircraft
• Electrified vertiport hubs at key venues including SoFi Stadium (Inglewood) and the LA Memorial Coliseum
• Network connectivity to LAX, Hollywood, Orange County, and Santa Monica
• Support for emergency services and security operations
• Storytelling integration across NBCUniversal's Olympic coverage

2. LA28-SPECIFIC INITIATIVES

2.1 Announced Plans & Positioning

Archer's LA28 activation centers on demonstrating commercial viability of electric air taxis in a high-visibility, high-density transportation environment. Key elements:

• Hawthorne Airport Hub: Archer completed the first phase of acquiring control of Hawthorne Municipal Airport in November 2025 for $126 million. The 80-acre site, located less than three miles from LAX and near SoFi Stadium, will serve as the operational hub for Archer's LA air taxi network during the Games. Facilities include approximately 190,000 sq ft of terminal, office, and hangar space.
• Venue Network: Planned vertiports at SoFi Stadium, LA Memorial Coliseum, and connections to LAX, Hollywood, Orange County, and Santa Monica. LA28 announced a dual-venue Opening Ceremony shared between the Coliseum and SoFi Stadium (May 2025), with the Coliseum hosting the Closing Ceremony. SoFi will be reconfigured for swimming in Week 2 (38,000 capacity, largest swimming venue in Olympic history), while athletics moves to Week 1 at the Coliseum. Archer's vertiport positioning at both ceremony venues creates maximum visibility during the Games' highest-profile moments.
• NBCUniversal Integration: The agreement includes access to storytelling throughout NBC's 2028 Olympic coverage, including Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
• Korean Air Partnership: In October 2025, Korean Air signed an agreement to purchase up to 100 Midnight aircraft, providing an international validation point ahead of LA28.

2.2 Regulatory/Market Context

Archer's ability to deliver on its LA28 commitments depends entirely on FAA certification of the Midnight aircraft:

• FAA Type Certification: As of late 2025, Archer is approximately 15% through its FAA certification compliance documents. The FAA finalized airworthiness criteria for Midnight in May 2024. Archer's COO has stated the company expects to begin the Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) process "as soon as the end of 2025."
• Flight Testing: Over 400 test flights completed through November 2025, demonstrating full transition from vertical takeoff through wing-borne cruise.
• Part 135 & Part 141: Archer has secured air carrier certification (Part 135) and pilot training credentials (Part 141), foundational approvals for commercial operations.
• Competitive Benchmark: Rival Joby Aviation has completed approximately 70% of Stage 4 certification requirements, putting it meaningfully ahead in the FAA process.
• Timeline Risk: Some analysts do not expect final type certification until 2028, which would create a very tight timeline for LA28 activations. Archer has targeted certification by end of 2025, but this is widely viewed as optimistic.

3. EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP & DECISION-MAKERS

3.1 C-Suite Leadership

• Adam Goldstein - Founder, Chairman & CEO. Founded Archer in 2018. Previously founded Vettery (HR tech), sold in 2018. Has led the company since its NYSE listing in 2021.
• Mark Mesler - Chief Financial Officer
• Tosha Perkins - Chief People & Partnerships Officer. Likely the key executive on the LA28 relationship.
• Tom Muniz - Chief Operating Officer. Leads manufacturing ramp and certification program.

3.2 Olympic Partnership Leadership

Not publicly disclosed. Given the Chief People & Partnerships Officer role held by Tosha Perkins, partnership management likely sits within her organization.

3.3 Board Members with Relevant Experience

Archer's board includes representatives from strategic investors including United Airlines and Stellantis, both of which have made significant investments in the company. Specific board member profiles relevant to sports or entertainment partnerships are not publicly detailed.

4. AGENCY & CREATIVE PARTNERS

4.1 Agency Model

Archer Aviation operates as a pre-revenue startup and has not publicly disclosed a formal agency-of-record relationship for brand advertising.

4.2 Known Agency/Partner Relationships

• 5WPR: Public relations partner, responsible for securing 32+ media placements in major outlets including Bloomberg TV, CNBC, Fox Business, BBC News, Wall Street Journal, Fortune, and CNET.
• NBCUniversal: The LA28 partnership provides direct storytelling access through NBC's Olympic broadcast infrastructure.

4.3 Notable Creative Executions

Archer's marketing to date has been driven primarily by earned media, investor communications, and event participation (Paris Air Show, CES) rather than traditional brand advertising. The LA28 partnership represents a significant escalation in consumer-facing brand activity.

5. COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

5.1 Market Share & Competitive Landscape

The global eVTOL market is valued at approximately $4.2 billion (2025), projected to reach $39 billion by 2033 at a 35%+ CAGR. The competitive landscape has consolidated around two leading U.S. players:

• Joby Aviation: Archer's primary competitor. Approximately 70% through Stage 4 FAA certification. Backed by Toyota. NVIDIA partnership for autonomous flight technology. No Olympic sponsorship.
• Lilium: German eVTOL developer that shut down operations in February 2025 after failing to secure financing. Archer acquired approximately 300 of Lilium's patents for ~$21 million.
• EHang: Chinese company focused on autonomous operations, already operating commercially in China.
• Volocopter: European competitor, focused on urban air taxi applications.

Notably, Joby Aviation is backed by Toyota, which recently exited the IOC's TOP Programme. If Toyota had remained an Olympic sponsor, Joby (as a Toyota investee) might have had a path to Olympic visibility. Toyota's departure and Archer's independent partnership with LA28 reversed that dynamic.

5.2 Olympic Sponsorship Differentiation

Archer is the only eVTOL or urban air mobility company with an Olympic partnership. The LA28 deal gives Archer exclusive category rights and a global stage to demonstrate commercial readiness at a moment when the industry is racing toward certification. This is a category-creating sponsorship: no prior Olympics has included an air taxi partner.

5.3 Key Brand Messaging

• Electric, zero-emissions urban air mobility
• Reducing LA's legendary traffic congestion
• "The future of transportation" narrative tied to the world's largest sporting event
• Infrastructure commitment through Hawthorne Airport acquisition

6. KEY METRICS & BUSINESS CONTEXT

6.1 Financial Performance

Archer Aviation remains pre-revenue as of early 2026:

• Q3 2025: Net loss of $130 million. GAAP operating expenses of $175 million. Adjusted EBITDA loss of $116 million.
• Liquidity: Over $2.0 billion following a $650 million equity raise, providing substantial runway.
• Order Backlog: $6+ billion in aircraft orders from customers including United Airlines and Korean Air.
• Hawthorne Airport: $126 million acquisition for LA operations hub.
• Manufacturing: Six Midnight aircraft in production across California and Georgia facilities.
• Stock: ACHR traded at ~$8.42 in early 2026, down from an October 2025 high of $14.60.

6.2 Olympic Period Performance

Not applicable. Partnership value and sponsorship fee have not been publicly disclosed. Analyst estimates for 2026 revenue of ~$62 million assume initial commercial operations, likely beginning in Abu Dhabi rather than the U.S.

APPENDIX: KEY SOURCES

Official Sources

• LA28 Official Newsroom: la28.org/en/newsroom
• Archer Aviation Investor Relations: investors.archer.com
• Archer Aviation Newsroom: news.archer.com

Industry Analysis

• Aviation International News: ainonline.com
• The Motley Fool: Archer Aviation FAA Certification Analysis (November 2025)
• ResearchAndMarkets: eVTOL Aircraft Market Competitive Landscape 2025-2029
• Private Charter X: eVTOL Manufacturers Ranking 2025

Financial Filings

• Archer Aviation Q2 & Q3 2025 Earnings Reports
• SEC Filings via investors.archer.com

End of Research Brief