"Five-year-old European military drone startup Helsing is reportedly close to raising a new $1.2 billion round at about an $18 billion valuation. The round is expected to be led by Dragoneer and co-led by existing Helsing investor Lightspeed, the Financial Times reported."
"Helsing last raised just under a year ago, in June 2025, in a deal that was led by billionaire Spotify founder Daniel Ek. That was a €600 million investment at an estimated €12 billion valuation ($14 billion USD). So this new round is a step-up."
"While Helsing isn't the only European unicorn defense tech, it is by far the one that investors deem the most valuable. For instance, German drone maker Quantum Systems raised €180 million in November, which valued it at more than €3 billion. And a year ago, Lisbon-headquartered Tekever raised £400 million at a valuation above £1 billion."
"Amid Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, the proving ground for new technologies, autonomous defense startups have become a hot area for VCs. Helsing, Dragoneer, and Lightspeed could not be immediately reached for comment."
Helsing, a five-year-old European military drone startup, is reportedly close to raising a new $1.2 billion round at about an $18 billion valuation. The round is expected to be led by Dragoneer and co-led by existing investor Lightspeed. Helsing last raised just under a year ago in June 2025, when it secured €600 million at an estimated €12 billion valuation. The new round would represent a step-up in valuation. Helsing is described as the most valuable European defense tech unicorn. Other European drone makers include Quantum Systems, which raised €180 million at more than €3 billion, and Tekever, which raised £400 million at above £1 billion. Autonomous defense startups have attracted strong VC interest amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Read at TechCrunch
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]