PrivatePulse·Companies·Applied Intuition vs Skydio

Applied Intuition vs Skydio: employee equity compared

Secondary market prices, valuation trajectory, equity structure, and liquidity outlook for employees choosing between Applied Intuition and Skydio.

Secondary market data updated monthly · Sources: Hiive, Forge
↑ Higher secondary premium

Applied Intuition

Defense · United States · Founded 2017

Autonomous vehicle and ADAS software platform; tools for simulation, data management, and validation used by 19 of the 25 largest global automakers.

Last primary round$15B · Series F (2024-09)
Secondary market$16.6B (+11% vs primary)
Annual revenue$0.3B ARR · +200% YoY (very fast)
Headcount~700
Equity typeISO/NSO
Strike price range$60–$100 (depends on cohort)
Illiquidity discount~18%
Last round leadLux Capital / Andreessen Horowitz
Liquidity outlook

IPO plausible 2027–2029 if growth trajectory holds. Secondary indication near primary round valuation. Liquidity may come via tender offer or strategic acquisition before listing.

Key equity angle

Government-contract stability; ISO/NSO options; longer liquidity timeline vs consumer tech

Skydio

Defense · San Mateo, CA · Founded 2014

American autonomous drone manufacturer; best-known for obstacle-avoidance consumer drones and public-safety/enterprise platforms.

Last primary round$2.2B · Series D (2021-02)
Secondary market$2.3B (+5% vs primary)
Annual revenue$0.1B ARR · +10% YoY
Headcount~300
Equity typeISO/NSO
Strike price range$6–$12 (depends on cohort)
Illiquidity discount~30%
Last round leadAndreessen Horowitz
Liquidity outlook

Early-stage — IPO 4–6+ years away. High-risk, high-upside equity. Liquidity most likely via acquisition or late-stage tender.

Key equity angle

Government-contract stability; ISO/NSO options; longer liquidity timeline vs consumer tech

Key differences for employees

Equity structure

Applied Intuition grants ISO/NSO with strike prices ranging from $60–$100 depending on your grant year. Skydio grants ISO/NSO with strike prices from $6–$12.

Secondary market premium

The secondary market is pricing Applied Intuition at a +11% premium over its last primary round ($15B$16.6B). Skydio trades at +5% over its last round ($2.2B$2.3B). A higher secondary premium signals stronger investor demand and potentially better near-term liquidity for employees looking to sell.

Revenue and growth

Applied Intuition runs at $0.3B ARR, growing +200% YoY (very fast). Skydio runs at $0.1B ARR, growing +10% YoY. Revenue growth rate matters for equity because it drives the peer-multiple valuation — the method most correlated with exit multiples.

Liquidity timeline

Applied Intuition: IPO plausible 2027–2029 if growth trajectory holds. Secondary indication near primary round valuation. Liquidity may come via tender offer or strategic acquisition before listing.

Skydio: Early-stage — IPO 4–6+ years away. High-risk, high-upside equity. Liquidity most likely via acquisition or late-stage tender.

Calculate your specific grant

Enter your actual shares, equity type, and strike price. PrivatePulse calculates your personal equity value at both companies using 4 independent methods.

Frequently asked questions

Is Applied Intuition or Skydio a better company to work at for equity?
There's no universal answer — it depends on your risk profile, time horizon, and specific grant terms. Applied Intuition at $15B and Skydio at $2.2B offer very different risk/reward profiles. Use the calculator above to model your exact grant at each company.
How do I know if my Applied Intuition or Skydio equity is fairly priced?
Compare your grant's implied per-share value against the secondary market price. If investors are paying a premium on Hiive or Forge over the last primary round, that's a signal of strong demand. PrivatePulse shows you the gap between your 409A and what the secondary market says.
Can I sell my Applied Intuition or Skydio shares on the secondary market?
Secondary market transactions (Hiive, Forge, Caplight) require accredited investor status and your company's consent — most private companies have right-of-first-refusal (ROFR) provisions. Tender offers, when available, are typically the most accessible path to partial liquidity for employees.

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