Loans

One of the six financing paths for drone and robotics companies

Borrowed money you pay back, often with a government guarantee that makes the bank more willing to lend.

Banks, credit unions, CDCs and CDFIs lend for working capital, equipment and buildings. In the U.S., SBA programs guarantee part of many loans, and some states run guarantee programs of their own. The lender decides and sets the terms; the list below is what lenders commonly ask to see.

Programs

Each with its official page and the date it was last checked

One of the programs listed

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

SBA 504 loans

SBA says operating, for-profit, U.S.-located small businesses; not for working capital or inventory. All owners must be U.S. citizens or nationals living in the U.S. (SOP 50 10 8.1).

Amount:: Up to $5.5 million
Open to companies in:: United States

LoansEquipment financing

Last checked September 26, 2026. Each program decides who qualifies; check its official page.

Go to the official page

Many financing programs are listed here, from government research grants to loan guarantees and investor funds, each with its official page and the date it was last checked. The full list, with filters for path, country, stage and use of funds, opens with a free account.

What a lender will ask for

What lenders commonly ask to see before the first meeting

Business tax returnsThree years, or since inception.

Year-to-date financialsInterim balance sheet and profit and loss, less than 90 days old.

Projections12 to 24 months, tied to contracts and the pipeline, not hope.

Contract backlogSigned purchase orders, award letters, SBIR notices. This is what a drone lender underwrites.

Personal financial statementFor every owner of 20% or more.

Cap table and ownership documentsFormation documents, operating agreement, who owns what.

Debt scheduleEvery loan, lease and credit line, with balances and payments.

Use of fundsTo the dollar: units, parts, people, months of runway.

Unit economicsBill of materials cost and margin per unit for production loans.

Capability statementOne page. Your company page here counts. Go

SBA loan preparationloanreadiness.org walks through what an SBA lender commonly asks to see before a first meeting. Go

The lenders, funds and investors listed on Autonomy Runway

Autonomy Runway is not a broker-dealer, funding portal, investment adviser or lender. It does not offer or sell securities, recommend investments, or take part in any loan or investment. Companies and investors make their own decisions and do their own checks.

Autonomy Runway does not charge for introductions and takes no fee or commission from any loan, investment or grant. We are not a lender, broker, investment adviser or law firm, and nothing here is legal, tax or financial advice. Before you apply or sign, talk to a qualified lawyer, accountant or financial adviser.

Autonomy Runway is not a law firm, an accounting firm or a financial adviser, and nothing we publish is legal, tax or financial advice. The guides are general information with links to the official sources, and the tools organize your own facts and decisions. For advice about your situation, talk to a lawyer, an accountant or a financial adviser. See all our disclaimers.