Top 100 Military startups in USA
1
Funding: $3M
Aventra Defense Systems operates as a defense technology start-up developing low-cost glide and guidance systems for ultra long-range precision strikes
Aventra Defense Systems operates as a defense technology start-up developing low-cost glide and guidance systems for ultra long-range precision strikes
2
Funding: $1.1B
Divergent is a developer (that has defense contracts) of Divergent Adaptive Production System a software-hardware solution to replace traditional vehicle manufacturing.
Divergent is a developer (that has defense contracts) of Divergent Adaptive Production System a software-hardware solution to replace traditional vehicle manufacturing.
3
Funding: $170M
Govini is transforming Defense Acquisition into a strategic advantage for the United States.
Govini is transforming Defense Acquisition into a strategic advantage for the United States.
5
Funding: $2.2B
Sierra Space is building and operating military sattelites for missile detection and tracking.
Sierra Space is building and operating military sattelites for missile detection and tracking.
6
Funding: $2B
Hadrian is a machine parts startup that manufactures precision components for technology companies. It's building automated manufacturing facilities that will mass-produce parts for the vehicles that the military complex already relies on.
Hadrian is a machine parts startup that manufactures precision components for technology companies. It's building automated manufacturing facilities that will mass-produce parts for the vehicles that the military complex already relies on.
7
Funding: $1.1B
True Anomaly develops space security technologies. Its AI platform aims to fill a critical gap in space situational awareness and defensive operations and consists of Mosaic software for geospatial imagery analysis and hardware, including a line of autonomous spacecraft capable of rendezvous and close-proximity operations. These spacecraft, dubbed Jackal, are equipped with a suite of sensors and cameras for tracking, observing, and collecting data on objects in space. Jackal offers high maneuverability, regardless of payload and low cost. Its high-performance propulsion system and secure software base provide unmatched autonomy and control - designed from the ground up for highly dynamic missions to gain space superiority in any competitive orbital environment.
True Anomaly develops space security technologies. Its AI platform aims to fill a critical gap in space situational awareness and defensive operations and consists of Mosaic software for geospatial imagery analysis and hardware, including a line of autonomous spacecraft capable of rendezvous and close-proximity operations. These spacecraft, dubbed Jackal, are equipped with a suite of sensors and cameras for tracking, observing, and collecting data on objects in space. Jackal offers high maneuverability, regardless of payload and low cost. Its high-performance propulsion system and secure software base provide unmatched autonomy and control - designed from the ground up for highly dynamic missions to gain space superiority in any competitive orbital environment.
8
Funding: $566M
Hermeus is developing unmanned hypersonic aircraft Darkhorse designed for US defense and national security missions. It will be powered by the Chimera combined-cycle turbine engine. At low speeds, it operates in turbine mode, like any jet aircraft. At higher speeds, the incoming air bypasses the turbine, and the ramjet engine takes over control. The company uses a rapid prototyping and testing approach similar to SpaceX. It has already conducted a demonstration flight of its prototype, which is comparable in size to an F-16 fighter jet. Hermeus has also a contract with the US Air Force to develop an Advanced Battle Management System.
Hermeus is developing unmanned hypersonic aircraft Darkhorse designed for US defense and national security missions. It will be powered by the Chimera combined-cycle turbine engine. At low speeds, it operates in turbine mode, like any jet aircraft. At higher speeds, the incoming air bypasses the turbine, and the ramjet engine takes over control. The company uses a rapid prototyping and testing approach similar to SpaceX. It has already conducted a demonstration flight of its prototype, which is comparable in size to an F-16 fighter jet. Hermeus has also a contract with the US Air Force to develop an Advanced Battle Management System.
9
Funding: $347.1M
Gecko Robotics produces robots and sensors for inspecting large military objects. The company has signed a multi-year contract with the US Navy to monitor the state and performance of installations and ships in the US Pacific Fleet. The company's software helps the organization monitor the condition of installations and recommend maintenance, preventing problems before they occur and reducing maintenance time and costs. Gecko robots can climb, crawl, swim, and fly to build first-order data layers on the physical world. The company then combines these data with the predictive power of AI into a single source of truth for the physical world.
Gecko Robotics produces robots and sensors for inspecting large military objects. The company has signed a multi-year contract with the US Navy to monitor the state and performance of installations and ships in the US Pacific Fleet. The company's software helps the organization monitor the condition of installations and recommend maintenance, preventing problems before they occur and reducing maintenance time and costs. Gecko robots can climb, crawl, swim, and fly to build first-order data layers on the physical world. The company then combines these data with the predictive power of AI into a single source of truth for the physical world.
10
Funding: $184.5M
Code Metal is an AI-enabled platform providing verifiable code translation and optimization for edge development and code modernization. The startup has Pentagon deal to modernize and AI-enable WarMatrix, the military’s wargaming simulation environment. The platform is the Air Force’s push to take wargaming from a slow, largely manual exercise into a fast, software-driven simulation environment. The idea behind WarMatrix is that rather than using pen, paper, whiteboards, and tables, the program can model a campaign when you ask it something like, “What happens in a Taiwan scenario if we buy 200 more CCAs instead of 20 more fighters?”
Code Metal is an AI-enabled platform providing verifiable code translation and optimization for edge development and code modernization. The startup has Pentagon deal to modernize and AI-enable WarMatrix, the military’s wargaming simulation environment. The platform is the Air Force’s push to take wargaming from a slow, largely manual exercise into a fast, software-driven simulation environment. The idea behind WarMatrix is that rather than using pen, paper, whiteboards, and tables, the program can model a campaign when you ask it something like, “What happens in a Taiwan scenario if we buy 200 more CCAs instead of 20 more fighters?”
11
Funding: $100M
Aalyria is a telecom startup that specializes in data connectivity and reliability through weather and atmospheric conditions.
Aalyria is a telecom startup that specializes in data connectivity and reliability through weather and atmospheric conditions.
12
Funding: $73M
Vatn Systems creates affordable autonomous underwater vehicles that operate in cooperative groups (swarms). They use machine vision systems and AI-based navigation software that operates effectively in environments with limited access to GPS, while simultaneously reducing hardware costs. The modular design allows the vehicle to be tailored to the required range, accuracy and sensors for each mission at minimal cost. Vatn's UAVs synchronize in time and space to perform collaborative missions, enabling the rapid completion of complex missions. This is achieved through advanced trajectory planning and low-bandwidth, covert communications between UAVs. Vatn's primary investor and partner is the South Korean shipping giant Hanwha Group, which builds submarines.
Vatn Systems creates affordable autonomous underwater vehicles that operate in cooperative groups (swarms). They use machine vision systems and AI-based navigation software that operates effectively in environments with limited access to GPS, while simultaneously reducing hardware costs. The modular design allows the vehicle to be tailored to the required range, accuracy and sensors for each mission at minimal cost. Vatn's UAVs synchronize in time and space to perform collaborative missions, enabling the rapid completion of complex missions. This is achieved through advanced trajectory planning and low-bandwidth, covert communications between UAVs. Vatn's primary investor and partner is the South Korean shipping giant Hanwha Group, which builds submarines.
13
Funding: $61M
Rapidly equipping warfighters with cutting-edge technology and battlefield-proven insights as-a-service—because speed and tech relevance matter now more than ever.
Rapidly equipping warfighters with cutting-edge technology and battlefield-proven insights as-a-service—because speed and tech relevance matter now more than ever.
14
Funding: $46.4M
Foundation Alloy is making metal alloys that can take the heat and take a beating. Some of its first products have been tooling parts for drones and fighter jets. The startup uses a special type of mill that repeatedly smashes different metal powders together until they become one new metal. By eschewing melting company’s solid-state process uses around an order of magnitude less energy.
Foundation Alloy is making metal alloys that can take the heat and take a beating. Some of its first products have been tooling parts for drones and fighter jets. The startup uses a special type of mill that repeatedly smashes different metal powders together until they become one new metal. By eschewing melting company’s solid-state process uses around an order of magnitude less energy.
15
Funding: $42M
Airis Labs develops AI platform that analyzes multiple streams of visual information, including security cameras, drones, body cameras and media footage, and transform them into structured intelligence that can be searched, investigated and analyzed in real time. The platform has already been deployed by several government organizations worldwide. Among other things, Airis participates in a US Army program focused on accelerating the integration of new technologies, while also working with law enforcement and customs agencies.
Airis Labs develops AI platform that analyzes multiple streams of visual information, including security cameras, drones, body cameras and media footage, and transform them into structured intelligence that can be searched, investigated and analyzed in real time. The platform has already been deployed by several government organizations worldwide. Among other things, Airis participates in a US Army program focused on accelerating the integration of new technologies, while also working with law enforcement and customs agencies.
16
Funding: $35M
Arkenstone Defense is a compliance and operations software platform for defense contractors. It gives startups and other commercial firms a ready-made government contracting back office, combining workforce operations, HR, payroll, insurance, personnel security, contracting support, compliance and accreditation.
Arkenstone Defense is a compliance and operations software platform for defense contractors. It gives startups and other commercial firms a ready-made government contracting back office, combining workforce operations, HR, payroll, insurance, personnel security, contracting support, compliance and accreditation.
17
Funding: $31.6M
Grid Aero develops and manufactures autonomous cargo drones for long-range flights. Its Lifter aircraft is capable of carrying thousands of kilograms of cargo over thousands of kilometers. Combining ultra-simple and low-cost designs with advanced autonomous systems, it can reliably operate in remote or hostile environments, where infrastructure is limited or military operations are taking place. Furthermore, the loss of such a drone does not incur significant losses. Grid's autonomous control system combines classic control systems with modern AI, enabling aircraft to operate intelligently over long distances. It learns from other aircraft in the Grid network and minimizes the need for human oversight. Lifter aircraft operate as a fault-tolerant distributed network. With seamless fleet-wide control, a small ground team can manage dozens of aircraft over vast regions.
Grid Aero develops and manufactures autonomous cargo drones for long-range flights. Its Lifter aircraft is capable of carrying thousands of kilograms of cargo over thousands of kilometers. Combining ultra-simple and low-cost designs with advanced autonomous systems, it can reliably operate in remote or hostile environments, where infrastructure is limited or military operations are taking place. Furthermore, the loss of such a drone does not incur significant losses. Grid's autonomous control system combines classic control systems with modern AI, enabling aircraft to operate intelligently over long distances. It learns from other aircraft in the Grid network and minimizes the need for human oversight. Lifter aircraft operate as a fault-tolerant distributed network. With seamless fleet-wide control, a small ground team can manage dozens of aircraft over vast regions.
18
Funding: $21.4M
Integrate develops collaboration platform designed to allow private companies, the U.S. Department of Defense to work jointly on classified, multi-entity projects. It's designed to handle the coordination of mammoth, multi-year mega-projects, such as the F-35 Lightning II program, where thousands of partners must stay in sync What sets Integrate apart from its civilian-focused competitors is its ability to let different organizations simultaneously and securely collaborate on massive project schedules while keeping sensitive details hidden from other participants.
Integrate develops collaboration platform designed to allow private companies, the U.S. Department of Defense to work jointly on classified, multi-entity projects. It's designed to handle the coordination of mammoth, multi-year mega-projects, such as the F-35 Lightning II program, where thousands of partners must stay in sync What sets Integrate apart from its civilian-focused competitors is its ability to let different organizations simultaneously and securely collaborate on massive project schedules while keeping sensitive details hidden from other participants.
19
Funding: $10M
FPF Defense manufactures interceptors for Shahed-like drones. Its flagship-interceptor Hammerhead, designed for beyond-line-of-sight ops, looks like a mini-Shahed, measures about three feet long by two feet wide and has a warhead on its nose. And it costs a lot less than a Shahed - about $15-30K. It’s also fully autonomous - once it goes, it picks up a target with an electro-optical sensor, and then goes and attacks it autonomously. Hammerhead is part of an end-to-end air defense system the company calls SmartFlak—providing “autonomous launch, sophisticated onboard autonomy, and a kinetic interceptor engineered for U.S. mass production,” per a company statement.
FPF Defense manufactures interceptors for Shahed-like drones. Its flagship-interceptor Hammerhead, designed for beyond-line-of-sight ops, looks like a mini-Shahed, measures about three feet long by two feet wide and has a warhead on its nose. And it costs a lot less than a Shahed - about $15-30K. It’s also fully autonomous - once it goes, it picks up a target with an electro-optical sensor, and then goes and attacks it autonomously. Hammerhead is part of an end-to-end air defense system the company calls SmartFlak—providing “autonomous launch, sophisticated onboard autonomy, and a kinetic interceptor engineered for U.S. mass production,” per a company statement.
20
Lyntris develops autonomy software for Northrop Grumman Talon IQ collaborative combat aircraft. From the first signal to sustained readiness, Lyntris delivers sensing, processing, command and sustainment across every phase of the mission. Its RF and antenna systems engineered to detect and collect across Space, Air, Ground, and Sea—even in the most contested electromagnetic environments.
