German AI defense company Helsing recently secured €450 million in a C round financing. This funding will be used for product development and research, with a focus on protecting the eastern border of NATO. This round was led by General Catalyst, with other investors including Elad Gil, Accel, Saab, Lightspeed, Plural, and Greenoaks.
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The company's co-founders, Niklas Köhler, Torsten Reil, and Gundbert Scherf, stated in a joint statement: "European security is at a crossroads, and Helsing will play a crucial role in ensuring democratic societies have deterrent and self-defense capabilities. However, time is of the essence. This new round of financing allows us to accelerate our pace further, investing in large-scale research and development across various fields."
Since 2022, Helsing has been active in Ukraine and has recently collaborated with the Ukrainian government to establish a defense manufacturers alliance. The company has won several defense contracts since its inception. According to the press release, these contracts include electronic warfare upgrades for German European fighter jets, AI infrastructure for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), and some confidential contracts in the maritime and land domains.
As Helsing is considered a key technology company in Germany, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action must approve this round of financing. If approved, Helsing will become one of the most well-funded AI startups in Germany.
In the military field, AI is primarily applied to logistics, reconnaissance, cyberspace, and warfare. In Ukraine, AI-assisted drone reconnaissance and communication have played a significant role in resisting the Russian offensive.
Key Points:
🚀 German AI defense company Helsing has raised €450 million through a C round financing for product development and research.
🌍 Helsing has been active in Ukraine since 2022, collaborating with the government to establish a defense manufacturers alliance and has won multiple defense contracts.
💡 AI is mainly used in military fields for logistics, reconnaissance, cyberspace, and warfare, with Ukraine utilizing AI-assisted drone reconnaissance and communication to resist the Russian offensive.