Defense Tech Startups

Vatn designs and manufactures low-cost, modular autonomous underwater vehicles with proprietary autonomy, navigation, and control software for undersea ISR, logistics, sensing, and payload delivery missions. Its systems are used by defense, research, and commercial customers, including U.S. DoD and NATO partners operating in contested maritime environments.

1 investor

Vaya Space develops hybrid propulsion systems, centered on its patented Vortex-Hybrid engine that uses recycled plastic (HDPE) fuel grains, for defense and space applications. It runs active programs with the US Army, US Air Force, DARPA, and industry primes, and manufactures engines in-house in Cocoa, Florida.

1 investor

Dynamic Aerospace Systems develops American-made autonomous VTOL and UAV drone systems for logistics, delivery, sensing, and situational awareness, offering aircraft such as long-range hybrid VTOL surveillance drones and tactical multicopters. It serves government, defense, logistics, and public safety customers across the U.S., Gulf States, and NATO regions.

1 investor

Dynamic Aerospace Systems develops autonomous VTOL and UAV (drone) systems for logistics, delivery, sensing, and situational awareness, serving government, defense, logistics, and public safety customers. Its product line includes long-range hybrid VTOL surveillance aircraft, multi-use quad-copters, and tactical multicopters, marketed across the U.S., Gulf States, and NATO regions.

1 investor

Veilant designs and fields secure communications systems, private cellular and attribution-aware networking infrastructure, device virtualization, and privacy applications, along with mission consulting and training. It serves defense, government, and enterprise customers operating in high-stakes or contested digital environments.

1 investor

VelocityBlack develops and deploys software solutions to manage and secure large-scale data for mission-critical workloads, serving defense, intelligence, and commercial clients across sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, higher education, and government. Its offerings include ML/AI-driven data management and analytics, a scalable file system, cyberstorage protection, and offensive cybersecurity services.

1 investor

Velos Rotors designs and manufactures electric, heavy-lift UAV helicopters for cargo logistics, infrastructure inspection, surveying, and search-and-rescue operations across energy, industrial, maritime, and defense sectors. The company's flagship product, the Velos V3, is a twin-engine single-rotor system with redundant design, extended flight time, and high payload capacity operating in harsh conditions.

1 investor

Vernius makes drop-in hardware modules that add autonomous or operator-assisted targeting to existing FPV interceptor drones. The module sits between the drone's receiver and flight controller to provide beyond-visual-range sensing, autonomous guidance, or target bearing data for manual pilots, aimed at low-cost, high-volume defense deployment.

1 investor

Applied Aerospace manufactures advanced complex systems for aerospace, defense, and space customers. The company operates a nationwide infrastructure of purpose-built facilities serving technology innovators in these sectors.

1 investor

VIG-Sec Drone is a drone pilot training school offering AESA/EASA-certified professional pilot courses and specializations in security, emergencies, and wind turbine inspection. It also provides drone operation services including technical inspections of wind turbines and solar panels, 3D photogrammetry, regulatory advisory, and aerial monitoring for emergencies and events, based in Galicia, Spain.

1 investor

Vigilant Aerospace Systems develops detect-and-avoid and airspace management technology for unmanned aircraft systems (drones) and aviation operations. The company serves aerospace and defense operators managing beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights.

1 investor

VORAGO Technologies designs radiation-hardened and radiation-tolerant Arm Cortex-based microcontrollers and microprocessors using its HARDSIL process technology to protect chips in extreme environments. Its high-reliability semiconductor components serve space, satellite, aerospace, defense, and industrial applications such as subsurface drilling and autonomous vehicles.

1 investor

Vorpal-Corp builds a passive, non-transmitting drone detection system that geolocates and tracks drones and their operators, providing situational awareness and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) capabilities. The technology supports fixed and mobile deployments and is designed to work in dense urban environments.

1 investor

VoxCroft combines artificial intelligence with human analysis to interpret media, languages, and societal signals from under-covered geographies. Its products include Arrow, a media monitoring and information platform, and machine translation for low-resource languages, aimed at organizations needing intelligence tradecraft.

1 investor

VRAI develops simulation training technology that captures and analyzes synthetic training data using AI, serving the defense sector including the UK Ministry of Defence and its supply chain.

1 investor

Vrgineers develops XTAL virtual and mixed reality headsets and aviation simulators used for military pilot training. The company handles research, development, manufacturing, and integration of immersive simulation tools for professional and military clients.

1 investor

vRotors develops a software-as-a-service platform that enables users to remotely operate cameras and robotic devices to provide immersive presence and multi-sensory experiences at distant locations. The platform combines AI, robotics, and cloud infrastructure to create an alternative to physical travel and traditional video streaming.

1 investor

Vydar builds GNSS-denied navigation hardware and software for UAVs, enabling drones to fly autonomously where satellite positioning is unavailable. Its lightweight, low-power modules are designed for dual-use and defence applications, with all components sourced and manufactured in Europe.

1 investor

Wardstone designs and plans to deploy a constellation of satellites equipped with sensors and kinetic interceptors to detect, predict, and counter hypersonic and ballistic missiles for U.S. military defense agencies. The system, called the Golden Dome, is intended to provide global missile defense capabilities across multiple domains of conflict for the Space Force, Air Force, Navy, and Missile Defense Agency.

1 investor

Wartech develops autonomous strike and interception UAV (drone) systems for defense applications, with a focus on production in Denmark to support NATO/EU manufacturing sovereignty. Its technology targets military and allied defense use, offering modular sensors, weapons, and communication modules adaptable to conventional and asymmetric warfare.

1 investor

Wave Motion is developing large-scale kinetic energy transmission technology for space, aimed at launching vehicles with minimal onboard propellant, enabling orbital energy exchange, and point-to-point logistics. Its applications also include in-orbit maneuverability and directed energy systems.

1 investor

Wavice designs and mass-produces GaN RF semiconductor chips, packaged transistors, and modules, offering customized products from the chip level up to system-level applications. It supplies these high-frequency GaN RF solutions to customers for their development and production needs.

1 investor

Whisper Aero develops UltraQuiet electric propulsion technology that converts electricity into thrust for quieter, more efficient air movement. Its engines serve aviation, defense (drones and fixed-wing aircraft), and commercial applications, with manufacturing based in Tennessee, USA.

1 investor

Windlift develops wind-resilient tethered drones with an AI-driven flight-control system and simulation tools for autonomous tethered flight, targeting infrastructure protection, border security, and aerial surveillance. Its technology, developed with U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Energy funding, also supports airborne power generation for defense and commercial applications.

1 investor