CHAOS
Unicorn Β· $4.5BFounded 2022 Β· 316 employees on LinkedIn Β· 13 known investors
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Chaos Inc. develops portable radar systems and unmanned aerial system (UAS) detection technology for defense applications, offering efficient multi-target tracking and rapid deployment capabilities.
Also known as Chaos Inc. Β· CHAOS Industries Β· Chaos Industries, Inc.
Founders & leadership
CHAOS was founded in 2022 by John Tenet, Gavin Hood, and John T..
Investors Β· 13
Valuation Β· disclosed
Disclosed eventsSource: SEC prospectus filings, and round valuations the company or its investors disclosed β follow each entry's link for the claim.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026CHAOS Industries is a Los Angeles-based defense technology company that develops radar and sensing systems intended to detect drones, small unmanned aerial vehicles, and other aerial threats. Its core architecture, marketed as Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN), links self-forming networks of sensor nodes that share time synchronization via two-way time transfer and process data cooperatively, and is designed to interoperate with larger command-and-control systems. The company states this approach detects threats to warfighters, borders, and critical infrastructure up to 10 minutes faster than traditional high-end radars, with tracking ranges advertised up to 250 km and coverage costs stated at $100 per square kilometer.
The company's disclosed product line includes CH001 Vanquish, a distributed early-warning radar described as expeditionary, low size-weight-and-power, and effective at short to mid-range; and CH002 Astria, a long-range, high-precision-track radar for extended-range surveillance and persistent monitoring. Two additional products, one defense-oriented and one for industry, are listed as upcoming. Leadership includes co-founder and CEO John Tenet; George J. Tenet was named executive chairman in April 2025, and former U.S. Congressman and CIA veteran Will Hurd joined as chief strategy officer in October 2024.
Founding story
The company was founded in 2022; John Tenet is co-founder and chief executive officer.
Business model
CHAOS Industries designs and manufactures radar and networked sensing hardware and supporting software for defense and government customers, and has said it intends to expand product development and manufacturing capacity following its 2025 financing.
Traction
The company reported work with Eglin Air Force Base, a previously announced $2 million Air Force contract, and stated expectations of announcing roughly a dozen additional contracts in the months following November 2025. It reached a $4.5 billion valuation in its Series D and raised about $1 billion in total within three years of founding.
Latest developments
In November 2025 CHAOS announced a $510 million Series D led by Valor Equity Partners at a $4.5 billion valuation, with Valor's Antonio Gracias joining the board, following completion of the Ziva Corporation acquisition. In July 2026 the company announced a partnership with Insta to counter aerial threats in Europe and the acquisition of Atropos Group, combining sensing and effects with autonomous airborne platforms.
βΈFull profile β market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
The company is one of a group of venture-backed U.S. defense technology firms that reached multibillion-dollar valuations during a period when investors committed nearly $30 billion to defense tech in 2025, alongside companies such as Anduril, Saronic, and Shield AI. Its stated positioning is detection of drones and small unmanned aerial vehicles at long range, in contrast to legacy systems oriented toward identifying larger aircraft.
CHAOS positions its distributed, time-synchronized sensor networks against traditional single high-end radars, citing earlier detection, multi-target tracking, longer range, lower cost per area covered, and rapid expeditionary deployment.
Technology
The company's Coherent Distributed Networks technology uses self-forming networks of nodes that maintain time-synchronized operation through two-way time transfer, perform cooperative data processing, and interoperate with command-and-control systems. Wireless time synchronization capability was reinforced through the acquisition of Ziva Corporation. Products include distributed early-warning radar and long-range precision-track radar, with stated performance of sensing threats up to 10 minutes sooner and tracking to 250 km.
Go-to-market
Sales are directed at government and defense customers through contracts and programs, including an announced $2 million U.S. Air Force contract, AFWERX TACFI funding, and a Phase II SBIR for multi-static radar; the company has also formed partnerships with other defense technology firms such as Forterra and Insta.
U.S. and allied military forces, border protection agencies, commercial air operators, and critical infrastructure protection users.
Geography
Headquartered in Los Angeles with offices listed as Washington, D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, London, Amman, and Seattle across company and press materials.
History
Founded in 2022, the company raised a $145 million Series B announced in November 2024, a $275 million Series C announced in May 2025, and a $510 million Series D announced in November 2025, bringing total funding to roughly $1 billion within three years of founding. In 2025 it acquired Ziva Corporation, a wireless time synchronization specialist, and in 2026 announced the acquisition of Atropos Group and a European partnership with Insta.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources β announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed β not independently audited.
Timeline Β· 11
launches, deals, and filingsAcquisition announced as uniting sensing and effects with autonomous airborne platforms.
CHAOS acquired Ziva Corporation, described as a leader in wireless time synchronization, a capability underpinning its distributed radar and sensing networks; Ziva's team was embedded into CHAOS.
The round, which closed in October 2025, included participation from existing investors 8VC and Accel; Valor CEO Antonio Gracias joined the board. Proceeds are earmarked for expanded product development, manufacturing and workforce scaling.
$510M source β
Series C funding announced to advance defense and national security technology innovation.
$275M source β
Series B funding announced to accelerate defense and national security technology development.
$145M source β
Former U.S. Congressman and C.I.A. veteran Will Hurd appointed chief strategy officer.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
In the news
βΈResearch sources Β· 8
primary sources listed
- CHAOSchaosinc.com Β· web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does CHAOS do?
- CHAOS Industries builds radar and distributed sensing systems for counter-drone and air defense missions.
- Who founded CHAOS?
- CHAOS was founded by John Tenet, Gavin Hood, John T. in 2022.
- Who are CHAOS's investors?
- CHAOS's investors include 8VC, Accel, Alpha Wave Global, HOF Capital, Inflection Ventures, Manhattan Venture Partners, New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Nimble Partners and 5 more.