Helsing Secures €450M in Series C Funding to Advance Defence AI
Defence AI innovator Helsing has secured €450 million in a Series C funding round, led by General Catalyst. The round also saw participation from prominent investors such as Elad Gil, Accel, Saab, Lightspeed, Plural, and Greenoaks.
The substantial funding will fuel Helsing’s product development and R&D efforts, with a special emphasis on enhancing capabilities to safeguard European sovereignty. A key focus area will be the protection of NATO’s Eastern Flank, highlighting Helsing’s commitment to bolstering regional security through cutting-edge AI technology.
In a joint statement, the company’s three founders Niklas Köhler, Torsten Reil and Gundbert Scherf said: “European security is at a crossroads and Helsing will play a significant role in giving democratic societies the ability to deter and defend. But speed is of the essence. This new funding round allows us to further up the tempo and invest in large-scale R&D and capabilities across all domains.”
Jeannette zu Fürstenberg, MD and Head of Europe at General Catalyst, adds: “Since its inception, we have been able to watch the Helsing team execute with a great sense of urgency to build AI-based defense capabilities for European democracies. I have deep conviction that Helsing is on the path to becoming a global category leader. As we witness battlefronts on European soil for the first time in decades, we believe the role of companies like Helsing has never been more critical.”
Since 2022, Helsing has been actively involved in Ukraine, recently forming the Defence Manufacturers Alliance in collaboration with the Ukrainian government. Established in 2021, Helsing has quickly secured numerous government contracts, reflecting its growing influence in the defence sector.
Among its significant projects are the German Eurofighter Electronic Warfare upgrade, in partnership with strategic investor Saab AB, and the development of AI infrastructure for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) with consortium HIS. Additionally, Helsing has undertaken several classified contracts in the maritime and land domains, further solidifying its position as a key player in defence technology.
The recent €450 million Series C financing round, led by General Catalyst and featuring notable investors like Elad Gil, Accel, Saab, Lightspeed, Plural, and Greenoaks, is currently pending government approval. This funding is set to bolster Helsing’s product development and R&D, with a keen focus on enhancing European security and protecting NATO’s Eastern Flank.
