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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.

China to Streamline Rules for Overseas Tech Listings, Vows Greater Support for Startups

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China’s securities regulator will establish a more transparent and predictable regulatory framework to support technology firms seeking overseas listings, a senior official announced Thursday, signaling Beijing’s renewed push to boost capital access for its tech sector amid intensifying U.S.-China tensions.

Speaking at a news briefing, Yan Bojin, Chief Risk Officer at the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), said the regulator aims to simplify procedures and safeguard fund usage, ensuring capital raised from IPOs is channeled directly into core business operations rather than speculative activities.

“We will support more high-quality, unprofitable tech companies to go public,” Yan said, referencing China’s desire to emulate Western models of nurturing early-stage innovation through public markets.

Key Highlights:

  • Improved regulatory clarity for tech firms listing abroad

  • Stronger oversight on how IPO funds are used

  • Expanded support for pre-profit tech startups to access equity markets

  • Further reforms to Shanghai’s STAR Market and Shenzhen’s ChiNext board

  • Encouragement for “red-chip” tech companies (Chinese firms listed in Hong Kong) to consider domestic IPOs

Strategic Context

The policy update comes amid:

  • Beijing’s push for tech self-sufficiency, especially in semiconductors and AI

  • Escalating U.S. export controls and investment restrictions targeting Chinese tech firms

  • Efforts to keep promising Chinese startups within domestic capital markets, rather than relying heavily on U.S. IPO routes

The CSRC’s focus on “red-chip” firms also suggests efforts to strengthen Hong Kong’s role as a financial bridge while still drawing key players back to mainland exchanges.

Implications

The shift is seen as part of a broader capital markets reform agenda that aims to:

  • Enhance investor confidence

  • Deepen tech financing channels

  • Retain strategic tech assets within China’s influence

  • Reduce dependence on Western listing venues, particularly as geopolitical risks mount

While regulatory challenges and global tensions remain, the announcement marks a clear signal that Chinese authorities are seeking to balance market openness with national security priorities.

Motorola Solutions Nears $4.5 Billion Deal to Acquire Military Tech Firm Silvus Technologies

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Motorola Solutions is in advanced negotiations to acquire Silvus Technologies — a privately held maker of advanced wireless communication systems — in a deal valued at approximately $4.5 billion, according to a report from Bloomberg News citing sources familiar with the matter.

While a final agreement has not yet been reached, the companies may announce the deal within the coming weeks. Motorola Solutions, Silvus, and Silvus’s private equity owner TJC declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.

About Silvus Technologies

Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Los Angeles, Silvus develops high-performance wireless radio systems used in military, defense, and maritime operations. The company has become increasingly relevant amid rising global geopolitical tensions, with many governments investing in the modernization of military communications and surveillance infrastructure.

Silvus had been exploring strategic alternatives, including a potential sale or initial public offering, before emerging as an acquisition target for Motorola.

Motorola’s Strategic Move

Chicago-based Motorola Solutions, best known for its public safety communications equipment such as walkie-talkies, body cameras, and surveillance software, appears poised to expand deeper into the defense and mission-critical communication markets with this acquisition.

In April, Motorola launched the SVX — an all-in-one device combining a remote speaker microphone, AI-powered assistant, and body camera aimed at first responders. The addition of Silvus could strengthen Motorola’s portfolio in military-grade mesh networking and field communications.

Financial Context

  • Motorola recently issued second-quarter guidance that missed analyst expectations.

  • Its stock is down 9% year-to-date.

  • The company holds a market valuation of $70.59 billion.

The acquisition of Silvus could bolster growth prospects and diversify Motorola’s critical communications offerings, especially at a time when demand for secure, resilient wireless infrastructure is rising across defense and public safety sectors.