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German AI Defence Start-Up Helsing Raises €600 Million, Hits $12 Billion Valuation

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Helsing, a Munich-based defence technology start-up, has secured €600 million ($693 million) in its latest funding round, the company announced Tuesday. The investment was led by Prima Materia, an investment firm co-founded by Spotify founder Daniel Ek and Shakil Khan. This round brings Helsing’s total valuation to $12 billion, placing it among the top five private tech companies in Europe, according to the Financial Times.

Key Investors and Strategic Backing:

  • Prima Materia doubled its stake in this round.

  • Other notable participants include Lightspeed Ventures, Accel, Plural, General Catalyst, and Swedish defence company SAAB.

Helsing’s Ambitions:

Founded in Germany, Helsing develops AI-powered defence software and is now expanding its hardware capabilities to include:

  • Drones

  • Aircraft

  • Submarines

The company is positioning itself as a core enabler of modern European defence, aiming to support governments as they increase defence spending amid heightened geopolitical tensions, particularly in Europe.

Helsing’s software is designed to integrate across military platforms, delivering real-time situational awareness and threat detection using advanced machine learning. The move toward manufacturing its own defence hardware signals a broader ambition to become a full-spectrum defence contractor, bridging software and battlefield systems.

Anduril Industries Valued at $30.5 Billion After $2.5 Billion Fundraising Round

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Defense tech startup Anduril Industries has more than doubled its valuation to $30.5 billion in a fresh funding round where it raised $2.5 billion, the company announced Thursday. This latest capital injection follows last year’s raise of $1.5 billion, which valued the company at $14 billion.

The new funding round was led by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, which contributed $1 billion. Other existing investors also increased their stakes as part of the Series G financing.

Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, Anduril specializes in autonomous defense technologies such as sensors and drones. The company has risen rapidly amid growing demand for affordable, automated defense solutions.

Anduril recently formed a strategic partnership with Palantir Technologies to create a consortium aiming to jointly pursue government contracts, aligned with Pentagon efforts to reduce defense spending.

Founders Fund has been a key backer since Anduril’s inception, with co-founder Trae Stephens also serving as a partner at the investment firm.

Axon Raises Full-Year Revenue Forecast on Strong Demand for Security Tech, Shares Surge

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Axon Enterprise (AXON.O), the maker of TASER devices, body cameras, drones, and law enforcement technology, raised its 2025 revenue guidance on Wednesday, fueled by continued strong demand for its security products and software platforms. The news sent Axon shares up more than 7% in after-hours trading.

The Arizona-based company now expects full-year revenue to reach $2.60–$2.70 billion, up from a prior forecast of $2.55–$2.65 billion, with the midpoint exceeding analysts’ consensus of $2.62 billion (LSEG).

Q1 Financial Highlights:

  • Adjusted EPS: $1.41 (vs. $1.27 expected)

  • Revenue: $603.6M (vs. $583.8M expected)

Axon, which supplies its technology across North America, Europe, and Australia, continues to lead the U.S. market for police body cameras and has been expanding its drone and sensor offerings.

CapEx & Strategic Investments:

  • 2025 capital expenditures are projected to range between $160M–$180M, excluding planned investments in a new headquarters facility.

“Axon’s strong financial performance reflects ongoing trust in our mission-critical technologies and our expanding global customer base,” the company said in a statement.

Axon’s raised forecast and strong quarterly beat reinforce its position as a dominant player in law enforcement tech, with growth driven by both hardware and recurring revenue from its software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings.