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Defense startup Helsing raises $1.8 billion at $18 billion valuation
CNBC • • general
Key Points:
- European defense startup Helsing raised $1.8 billion in a funding round, valuing the German firm at $18 billion, with participation from JPMorgan Chase and venture capital funds like Lightspeed and Iconiq.
- Helsing develops hardware and software platforms for defense, including drones, underwater surveillance weapons, and AI-powered autonomous systems, with its HX-2 drones supplied to the Ukrainian army.
- The Munich-based company emphasizes its European ownership and aims to enhance sovereign defense capabilities in Europe amid growing investor confidence in AI-driven defense technology.
- The new funding will support Helsing’s mission to integrate advanced AI platforms into the defense systems of an expanding group of partner nations.
- The investment reflects a broader trend of strong private market interest in innovative defense startups, paralleling large funding rounds for U.S. firms like Anduril, Shield AI, and Saronic.
