Riga-based defence tech startup Origin, which develops cost-effective, drone-launched precision-guided weapon systems for modern warfare, has raised €4.5 million. The investment came from the European Defence Fund, as Vestebee was told.
- Origin was established in 2022 by Agris Kipurs and Ilya Nevdah in response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The company specializes in cutting-edge autonomous systems, particularly airborne precision-guided weapons.
- Origin's product, the BEAK is a man-portable ISR drone with precision guidance that uses a reusable carrier to lower costs. Equipped with AI and computer vision, it can autonomously navigate complex environments, even under radio jamming.
- In October, the startup raised €4 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Change Ventures to expand its team by hiring key engineering and sales staff and to continue developing its product.
Details of the deal
- The investment came from the European Defence Fund (EDF), which provides funding for defence technology development in EU Member States. It supports collaborative research and capability projects with a nearly €8 billion budget for 2021-2027.
- The fresh funds will be used to develop a man-portable ISTAR drone with laser target designation capability. Weighing under 15 kg, the mini UAV will feature a NATO-compatible laser designator, offering a cost-effective solution for modern defence.
- The MPortISTAR project will minimize size, weight, and power consumption (SWaP) across critical components, including the laser designator, see-spot camera, gimbal, and UAV.
- This project involves partners from Lithuania (Aktyvus Photonics UAB) and Germany (Leosys Laser and Electro-Optic Systems GmbH), and is supported by the defence ministries of Latvia, Lithuania, and Germany.
"At Origin, we are encouraged that the European Defence Fund recognises the necessity of strengthening the defensive capacities of small and mid-sized nations in a cost-effective way. Our MPortISTAR project directly addresses this need, ensuring that countries like Latvia can meet modern security challenges more effectively," claims Agris Kipurs, co-founder of Origin.
