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.
4
Funding: $376.5M
Amca manufactures critical sub-tier components that keep aircraft flying and vehicles moving, such as hydraulics, avionics, sensors, flight-control computers, and power electronics. Currently, the manufacturing base for these components relies heavily on a fragmented network of ageing, family-owned legacy suppliers. Instead of trying to run these traditional suppliers out of business, Amca’s strategy centres on consolidation and modernisation. The startup actively acquires established, certified family-run manufacturers and absorbs them into its single, connected network.
Amca manufactures critical sub-tier components that keep aircraft flying and vehicles moving, such as hydraulics, avionics, sensors, flight-control computers, and power electronics. Currently, the manufacturing base for these components relies heavily on a fragmented network of ageing, family-owned legacy suppliers. Instead of trying to run these traditional suppliers out of business, Amca’s strategy centres on consolidation and modernisation. The startup actively acquires established, certified family-run manufacturers and absorbs them into its single, connected network.
5
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.
6
Funding: $250M
Covenant builds long-range precision strike missiles. Covenant’s Anthem long-range heavy-payload cruise missiles are designed to compete with RTX’s Tomahawk. It operates production facilities in Germany, Israel and new megafactory in Dallas to build 5,000 lower-cost missiles for the U.S. military annually.
Covenant builds long-range precision strike missiles. Covenant’s Anthem long-range heavy-payload cruise missiles are designed to compete with RTX’s Tomahawk. It operates production facilities in Germany, Israel and new megafactory in Dallas to build 5,000 lower-cost missiles for the U.S. military annually.
7
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.
8
Funding: $93M
Smack Technologies develops Alpha, a wrist-worn device designed to connect operators in the field to real-time data collected and processed through Smack’s Omega AI software. The sensors that are out collecting information about enemy forces and their location are sending that information to a screen on soldier's forearm along with actionable decision options informed by campaign equities and adjacent units.
Smack Technologies develops Alpha, a wrist-worn device designed to connect operators in the field to real-time data collected and processed through Smack’s Omega AI software. The sensors that are out collecting information about enemy forces and their location are sending that information to a screen on soldier's forearm along with actionable decision options informed by campaign equities and adjacent units.
9
Funding: $82.7M
Powerus develops counter-drone interceptor Guardian (optimized for one-way attack drones, including Shahed-136 and Geran-2), backpackable quadcopter Matrix (that carries a real payload to the objective under one operator, GPS-denied), heavy-lifter Dragon H1000 (for vehicle resupply, heavy equipment, and multi-drop logistics), autonomous fixed-wing VTOL Reach (that holds a station for four hours and covers 300 kilometers in a single sortie, ten times the ground a multi-rotor sees in one flight).
Powerus develops counter-drone interceptor Guardian (optimized for one-way attack drones, including Shahed-136 and Geran-2), backpackable quadcopter Matrix (that carries a real payload to the objective under one operator, GPS-denied), heavy-lifter Dragon H1000 (for vehicle resupply, heavy equipment, and multi-drop logistics), autonomous fixed-wing VTOL Reach (that holds a station for four hours and covers 300 kilometers in a single sortie, ten times the ground a multi-rotor sees in one flight).
10
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.
11
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.
12
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.
13
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.
14
Funding: $30M
Furientis is building building low-cost, high-volume ship-based interceptor missiles to address critical U.S. munitions shortages and cost imbalances in modern warfare. Its solid rocket motor chemistry and manufacturing processes are engineered for motor production in the thousands per factory per year while flight vehicles are engineered for manufacturability - driving 30-minute final assembly and a monthly design-build-fly cadence.
Furientis is building building low-cost, high-volume ship-based interceptor missiles to address critical U.S. munitions shortages and cost imbalances in modern warfare. Its solid rocket motor chemistry and manufacturing processes are engineered for motor production in the thousands per factory per year while flight vehicles are engineered for manufacturability - driving 30-minute final assembly and a monthly design-build-fly cadence.
16
Funding: $13.5M
Rapta Supercharges US Manufacturing with an Agentic AI Platform that eliminates errors in real time and automates tasks 30x faster. The platform combines computer vision and AI to deliver real-time work instructions and verify quality as components move through production. It connects data across information technology and operational technology environments, giving manufacturers a unified view of production and a traceable record of how each part was built.
Rapta Supercharges US Manufacturing with an Agentic AI Platform that eliminates errors in real time and automates tasks 30x faster. The platform combines computer vision and AI to deliver real-time work instructions and verify quality as components move through production. It connects data across information technology and operational technology environments, giving manufacturers a unified view of production and a traceable record of how each part was built.
17
Funding: $11.9M
Tern AI is an AI-based company that develops technology infrastructure-free alternative to GPS. It allows military vehicle to essentially determine its own position independently, using edge processing, which is helpful both on- and off-road, in tunnels or in deserts. The startup has a contract with U.S. Army
Tern AI is an AI-based company that develops technology infrastructure-free alternative to GPS. It allows military vehicle to essentially determine its own position independently, using edge processing, which is helpful both on- and off-road, in tunnels or in deserts. The startup has a contract with U.S. Army
18
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.
19
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.
20
Funding: $7.8M
Mara develops autonomous counter-drone systems designed to detect, track, and defeat radio-silent FPV drones.
Mara develops autonomous counter-drone systems designed to detect, track, and defeat radio-silent FPV drones.
