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Artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming a critical part of the defense sector, driving a wave of venture capital investment in startups developing solutions for the modern battlefield. According to Crunchbase News, investors are now focusing on early-stage companies that are harnessing the power of AI to create next-generation autonomous defense and attack capabilities.
One of the most funded categories is that of startups in the field of “agentic AI”, particularly in the context of cybersecurity. These companies develop technologies that allow defense systems not only to detect threats, but also to act autonomously to neutralize them. These AI agents can plan and execute complex security missions, such as proactively conducting penetration tests to detect vulnerabilities in military systems or neutralizing cyberattacks in real time, all without requiring human intervention. The ability to autonomously protect critical networks meets a growing need against sophisticated digital threats.
Another area receiving significant financial support is robotics and automation. Startups in this field are securing seed funding to develop autonomous robotic platforms for various military applications. Their technologies include unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and ground vehicles capable of independently carrying out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, navigating complex terrain and providing logistical supplies to frontline forces. These investments aim to develop systems capable of operating in swarms and supporting combat forces while reducing risks to human lives.
Investors are also channeling capital into startups specializing in “Backend Automation”. These companies are using AI to streamline military processes that are not frontline but are essential to overall operational effectiveness. Their technologies enable the automation of supply chains, the analysis of large amounts of intelligence data from various sources (Data Fusion), and the optimization of command and control systems (C2). These solutions lead to faster and more accurate decision-making and reduce the burden on human operators.
For example, Armadin Security raised a large round of funding ($24 million) as part of more than $400 million invested in AI cybersecurity startups over the past six months, developing AI tools that automate security testing and proactively identify vulnerabilities that malicious actors could exploit. In the field of robotics and unmanned systems, which has attracted more than $850 million in seed funding during the same period, Mochi Intelligence secured one of the largest funding rounds (more than $128 million) to advance a universal humanoid robotic platform capable of performing complex physical tasks, while Mind Robotics raised a large seed round (more than $115 million) to build AI-powered, engineered industrial robots for advanced automation environments.
These investment trends highlight a conceptual shift in the defense technology sector. The focus is no longer just on improving existing systems, but on creating entirely new capabilities based on autonomy and artificial intelligence. These early-stage funded startups are at the forefront of this revolution and poised to shape the future of digital and physical warfare.