Yazılar

Defense Tech Startup Epirus Raises $250 Million to Scale Anti-Drone Weapons

/in /tarafından

Epirus, a defense technology startup, has raised $250 million in its Series D funding round to scale up the production of its anti-drone weapons. The company did not disclose its valuation for this round, though it was previously valued at $1.35 billion during its Series C funding, which raised $200 million.

The timing of this funding comes amid a surge in demand for defense technologies following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago. Epirus secured a $66 million contract in 2023 to supply its flagship anti-drone system, Leonidas, to the U.S. Army.

Based in Torrance, California, Epirus specializes in developing weapons capable of destroying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) using advanced technologies like lasers and microwaves.

The oversubscribed round was co-led by venture capital firm 8VC and Washington Harbour Partners LP, with participation from General Dynamics Land Systems, a division of U.S. defense giant General Dynamics. This funding brings Epirus’ total raised capital to over $550 million.

Epirus plans to use the funds to expand into international and commercial markets, strengthen its supply chain, and grow its workforce. The company will also open a new simulation center in Oklahoma to train soldiers in counter-drone warfare.

Dutch Prime Minister Vows Support for Tech Startups Amid Slowing Growth

/in /tarafından

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof announced plans to strengthen the Netherlands’ technical startup sector, aiming to attract more venture capital following industry concerns about slowing growth.

Speaking at TechLeap’s annual event in The Hague on Wednesday, Schoof highlighted his government’s intention to cut regulatory red tape and increase investments in artificial intelligence. However, he did not provide specific details on the proposed measures.

“The alarming thought, of course, is that as Europe, we are let down, and we cannot keep up with the United States and China. We have to do something about it,” Schoof emphasized. “We have to make sure that … we create an environment in which venture capital is going to invest.”

The Dutch economy, particularly reliant on chip equipment manufacturing and home to ASML—the world’s largest chip equipment maker—has benefited significantly from the technical startup ecosystem concentrated in Eindhoven. The city has helped bolster the economy amid economic challenges in neighboring Germany.

TechLeap’s latest research indicated that venture capital investments in Dutch startups rose by 47% to 3.1 billion euros in 2024, positioning the Netherlands as the fourth-largest market in Europe behind Britain, Germany, and France. However, the U.S. remained far ahead, with $190 billion in investments according to DealRoom data.

Despite the rise in overall venture capital, the number of Dutch startups receiving significant funding declined, with only 104 companies securing investments of over 100,000 euros in 2024, down from 172 in 2023. The majority of this funding came from foreign investors.

Two Dutch companies achieved unicorn status in 2024, attaining private market valuations exceeding 1 billion euros. These firms were Mews, a hotel software developer, and DataSnipper, which uses AI to automate auditing functions.

Founders Fund in Talks to Back Anduril Industries at $28 Billion Valuation

/in /tarafından

AI-powered defense startup Anduril Industries is negotiating a new funding round that could elevate the company’s valuation to $28 billion, sources revealed on Friday. Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund is expected to lead this funding round, which could raise as much as $2.5 billion. This follows Anduril’s last funding round in August, where the company raised $1.5 billion at a $14 billion valuation.

Founders Fund has supported Anduril since its inception in 2017, and one of Anduril’s co-founders, Trae Stephens, is a partner at the firm. Despite the significant backing, Founders Fund declined to comment on the details of the latest round, which was first reported by CNBC.

Based in Costa Mesa, California, Anduril develops autonomous weapons and sensors, including drones, for military applications. The company has also announced plans to build a large-scale weapons manufacturing facility in Ohio to enhance its production capabilities. Additionally, Anduril launched the Lattice for Mission Autonomy in 2023, an AI-driven software for coordinating autonomous systems in human-supervised missions.

Anduril’s founder, Palmer Luckey, is well-known for creating Oculus VR, which was acquired by Facebook in 2014 for $2.3 billion. U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who previously worked as a venture capitalist, has invested in Anduril and holds stakes in the company. Thiel, a long-time Republican donor and co-founder of Palantir Technologies, has backed multiple conservative political figures, including President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign and Vance’s 2022 Senate bid.