Helsing Secures €450 Million to Enhance AI Defense Capabilities on NATO’s Eastern Flank

Editor’s Note: Defense AI startup Helsing GmbH has raised €450 million in a Series C funding round, valuing the company at €4.95 billion. Led by General Catalyst and other prominent investors, this funding will support Helsing’s R&D and expansion along NATO’s eastern flank. The company’s advanced AI solutions aim to enhance modern weapons systems and improve battlefield decision-making, reinforcing European security amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Industry News – Geopolitics Beat

Helsing Secures €450 Million to Enhance AI Defense Capabilities on NATO’s Eastern Flank

ComplexDiscovery Staff

Defense AI startup Helsing GmbH has successfully secured €450 million ($487 million) in a Series C financing round led by General Catalyst, with participation from investors such as Elad Gil, Accel, Saab AB, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Plural, and Greenoaks. This significant investment, reported to value Helsing at €4.95 billion ($5.4 billion), was announced as NATO held its annual summit in Washington, D.C., where the Russian invasion of Ukraine remains a primary concern.

Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Germany, Helsing develops sophisticated AI software designed to enhance weapons systems such as drones and jet fighters and improve battlefield decision-making processes. The recent cash injection is set to bolster Helsing’s R&D initiatives and facilitate the firm’s expansion along NATO’s eastern flank, focusing heavily on the Baltic region.

In line with its expansion strategy, Helsing has established a new subsidiary in Estonia, committing €70 million to Baltic defense projects over the next three years. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas welcomed Helsing’s move, highlighting the need for “actions, not just words” in strengthening regional security.

Helsing’s technology has already caught the attention of major defense players. The company has secured contracts for the German Eurofighter’s electronic warfare upgrade and the AI infrastructure for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). These contracts, along with classified engagements in the maritime and land domains, underscore Helsing’s growing influence in the defense sector.

Co-CEO and Co-Founder Gundbert Scherf emphasized the importance of technology in modern defense, particularly in light of current geopolitical tensions. “Ukraine has used technology for its defense against the full-scale Russian invasion and I think us being able to help there and deploy our technology and execute the mission we had set out three and a half years ago, to use AI to protect our democracies, has been a big driver for us,” Scherf stated in an interview with TechCrunch.

Helsing’s ambitious Project Centaur aims to revolutionize air combat through the development of advanced autonomous capabilities for existing and future air systems. Leveraging reinforcement learning and foundation models, Project Centaur has already demonstrated impressive results in early tests with human pilots. “By employing modern AI approaches, we are creating the foundation for significant capability leaps – but, crucially, applied to the specifics of the military domain,” explained Scherf.

General Catalyst’s Jeannette zu Fürstenberg expressed confidence in Helsing’s potential, stating, “I have deep conviction that Helsing is on the path to becoming a global category leader. As we witness battlefronts on European soil for the first time in decades, we believe the role of companies like Helsing has never been more critical.”

This surge in funding reflects broader trends in the defense technology sector. According to a report by PitchBook, nearly $35 billion was invested in defense tech startups by Silicon Valley in 2023, with over $9 billion contributed so far this year. Helsing is among the few European defense startups to reach such a significant scale, differentiating itself in a market where U.S. counterparts like Anduril Industries Inc. typically dominate.

While the boost in defense budgets across Western nations creates substantial opportunities for founders and investors, it also brings its challenges. European governments have traditionally lagged behind the U.S. in defense spending, making Helsing’s rapid ascension all the more notable. The funds from the Series C round will be pivotal in enhancing Helsing’s AI capabilities and expanding its team beyond the current 300-employee base.

Co-CEO Torsten Reil also highlighted the strategic importance of their location and partnerships. “We’re a company founded on European values and defending European interests and democracies, and right now that is happening in Ukraine. But of course, it’s also happening on our eastern flank, all the way from Finland, through the Baltics, down to Poland,” Reil remarked, pointing to the broad scope of Helsing’s operations and impact.

With the new funding, Helsing plans to reinforce its AI compute capabilities, though the specifics remain tightly guarded for security reasons. The company utilizes a combination of edge devices and third-party compute resources to support the compute-heavy requirements of its projects, including Project Centaur.

The recent developments affirm Helsing’s position at the forefront of defense technology innovation. As geopolitical dynamics continue to evolve, Helsing’s cutting-edge AI solutions seem poised to play a crucial role in safeguarding European security interests.

News Sources

• Defending Russia’s EU neighbors
• Helsing raises $490 million to protect NATO countries near Russia
• Defense technology startup Helsing raises €450M at reported €5B valuation
• Helsing Raises $487M in Series C Funding, Bolstering Europe’s AI Defense Capabilities
• Defense AI startup Helsing raises $487M Series C, plans Baltic expansion to combat Russian threat

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Source: ComplexDiscovery OÜ