Berlin-based defence tech startup Stark has raised $62 million in a funding round led by Sequoia Capital, bringing the company’s valuation to around $500 million and its total funding past $100 million.
- Launched in 2024 by Florian Seibel, Stark develops unmanned systems for NATO allies and partner militaries, including Ukraine.
- Its first product, the OWE-V Virtus, is a strike UAV with vertical take-off capability, an X-shaped wing design, a 5kg warhead, and onboard AI for targeting and navigation.
- Stark’s operations in Ukraine focus on testing and evaluating these systems under real operational conditions, intending to potentially establish local production if demand increases.
- The company combines software-defined platforms and AI to allow operators to control multiple systems simultaneously, prioritizing modularity, rapid deployability, and adaptation to modern battlefield requirements.
Details of the deal
- The investors in Stark’s funding round are the US-based VC firm Sequoia Capital, which helps build companies from idea to IPO, and business investor Peter Thiel.
- Stark plans to use the fresh $62 million funding to accelerate the development and deployment of its defense technologies. The company aims to scale production of its OWE-V Virtus UAV, enhance research and development in AI-assisted targeting and navigation, and strengthen testing and evaluation operations in Ukraine.
- The funding may also support expanding its global offices and potentially establishing local production facilities in Ukraine if demand grows. Additionally, Stark is expected to invest in recruiting top engineering and operational talent to sustain rapid growth and reinforce its position in the competitive defense tech sector.
