Defense Tech Startups

Moonware develops software for airfield operations automation, including HALO, a real-time operations control tool for managing ground operations, resources, and scheduling. It serves the passenger, cargo, defense, and advanced air mobility sectors, with additional products for military airbase command-and-control (NOVA) and vertiport coordination (ORION & ATLAS).

3 investors

Mutable Tactics builds "Mastermind," an AI-in-a-box central subsystem that coordinates diverse, low-cost third-party robotic platforms into a unified squad by centralizing sensing, reasoning, and compute. It targets defense and battlefield applications, enabling collaborative robotics to operate in contested, communications-denied environments.

3 investors

NextNav builds positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services using spectrum as a complement and backup to GPS, addressing vulnerabilities in indoor, urban, and critical infrastructure environments. The company proposes terrestrial 3D PNT services and mobile broadband in the Lower 900 MHz band to improve national security and enable commercial opportunities.

3 investors

nLIGHT designs and manufactures high-power semiconductor lasers for defense systems, directed energy applications, and advanced manufacturing. The company provides vertically integrated laser solutions from semiconductor chips to complete systems.

3 investors

NODA provides a horizontal integration platform for multi-domain autonomous systems in defense, enabling coordinated decision-making across independent agents without vendor lock-in. The company serves defense and military operators requiring orchestrated autonomous systems across multiple domains.

3 investors

NOVI builds on-board computers, Mission-as-a-Service capabilities, and GENIEedge multi-sensor smart satellites that process sensor data directly in orbit and transmit only actionable results to end-users. It serves defense and intelligence customers such as the U.S. Air Force and Missile Defense Agency for applications including geo-intelligence, missile defense, space autonomy, lunar operations, and satellite servicing.

3 investors

Oso Semiconductor develops power-efficient, high-performance beamforming chipsets for wireless systems using phased-array (electrically steered) antennas, based on ultra-low-loss beamforming IP. Its technology targets SATCOM active electronically scanned arrays, defense and portable communication systems, drones, and 5G/6G and automotive radar markets.

3 investors

Periphery develops embedded security technology to protect cyber-physical systems in critical infrastructure from sophisticated threats. The company uses intelligence-led models and centralized AI to enable faster threat detection and identification across distributed edge devices.

3 investors

Phoenix Semiconductor recreates late-generation, legacy, and mature microelectronic components to address the shortage of domestically manufactured legacy chips. It supplies trusted, domestically produced chips to government and commercial partners, including U.S. Department of Defense programs.

3 investors

Picogrid provides software and edge computing networks to integrate heterogeneous sensors, drones, and autonomous systems for real-time command and control across defense and wildfire detection applications. The vendor-neutral platform enables interoperability between government and commercial systems for coordinated operations and faster decision-making.

3 investors

Quantum Space builds the Ranger spacecraft platform, a highly maneuverable satellite designed to operate across LEO, MEO, GEO, and cislunar orbits with long operational life and on-orbit refueling. It targets national security and space defense customers including the U.S. Space Force and Department of War, as well as commercial space operators.

3 investors

Qubic develops quantum microwave systems based on superconducting circuits that generate entangled signals and filter noise to detect, image, and communicate with signals otherwise hidden in ambient noise. Its technology targets remote sensing and telecommunications applications such as drone detection and covert communications.

3 investors

Quindar provides ground software for satellite operations monitoring and automation, serving governments and defense organizations in the space sector.

3 investors

Radia is developing the WindRunner, an aircraft designed to carry oversized cargo—with roughly 10x the volume of a 777 and the ability to land on unpaved runways—for energy, defense, and other large cargo applications.

3 investors

Rangeview develops machines, materials, and software for the energy and defense industries, including a proprietary digital casting technology that reworks the traditional foundry process. It offers design and production partnership aimed at reducing lead times and eliminating tooling costs.

3 investors

RaySecur builds MailSecur, a security screening system that uses terahertz (T-ray) imaging to provide real-time 4D visibility into sealed mail and deliveries, detecting concealed threats and contraband such as powders, liquids, and drug-soaked paper that X-ray and metal detection miss. It serves corrections and public safety agencies, government operations, and corporate security and executive protection teams.

3 investors

Red Balloon Security develops host-based runtime defense solutions for devices in critical infrastructure environments. The company serves government agencies and Fortune 500 enterprises in aerospace, automotive, telecommunications, and other critical sectors.

3 investors

Red Queen Bio builds an AI-powered biodefense system that rapidly designs and manufactures countermeasures against emerging biological threats, enabling faster defensive responses to evolving pathogenic risks.

3 investors

Redwire is an integrated aerospace and defense company building space infrastructure, autonomous aircraft, and multi-domain operations technology using digital engineering and AI automation. It serves government and defense customers such as NASA, DARPA, the U.S. Space Force, and the U.S. Army, delivering solar arrays, spacecraft platforms, navigation systems, optical imaging, and space-based R&D and manufacturing.

3 investors

Safire develops hardware and software for energy systems, including resilient battery design, ruggedized sensing, secure communications, and an AI-powered energy operating system for real-time monitoring and control. The company targets critical energy infrastructure applications.

3 investors

SalesPatriot builds an AI operating system for procurement and distribution in defense, aerospace, and industrial sectors, automating complex supply chain workflows that currently rely on fragmented systems and manual processes.

3 investors

Schemata provides AI-powered training and readiness solutions using immersive, photorealistic virtual experiences for equipment and operations training across defense, enterprise, and other demanding sectors. The platform captures subject matter expert guidance, delivers step-by-step AI guidance on equipment, and tracks performance in real-time through dashboards.

3 investors

Sedaro provides cloud-based digital engineering and simulation software for modeling, analyzing, and developing complex mission-critical systems across space, air, land, sea, and cyber domains. It serves national security customers, including U.S. Department of War and Intelligence Community programs, with multi-domain simulation, digital twins, and mission analysis tools.

3 investors

SkySafe builds airspace security and drone defense technology that lets organizations detect, analyze, and respond to unauthorized drone activity. Its systems draw on hardware security, reverse engineering, digital signal processing, and software-defined radio, serving government and commercial customers.

3 investors