Market & RegulationInvestment · $1.8B
Helsing raises $1.8bn backed by Goldman and Lightspeed
Siftedhigh confidence
Why it matters
- →Helsing's funding round is one of the largest for a European startup, highlighting significant investor confidence in AI defence technology.
- →The company's expansion into hardware, including autonomous drones, marks a strategic shift to meet customer demand for rapid AI deployment.
- →This investment supports Europe's push for technological sovereignty in defence amid increasing global tensions.
Helsing, a defence startup from Munich, has raised $1.8 billion in a Series E funding round, bringing its valuation to $18 billion. The round was led by prominent investors including Goldman Sachs and Lightspeed Venture Partners. Founded in 2021, Helsing has expanded from AI software to hardware, developing autonomous drones and surveillance systems. The funding will support the development of AI platforms for European armed forces, reflecting a surge in investor interest in military tech. Helsing remains predominantly European-owned despite its global investor base.
Read originalThe story around this
Earlier coverage that leads up to this article, and what followed. Lines connect each piece to the closest one after it, converging here.
How we got here
- 1Defense Startup Funding Reaches Record $14.6B
Crunchbase News · June 2, 2026 · Background
What happened next
- 2AI and Defense Tech Lead Major Funding Rounds
Crunchbase News · August 21, 2026 · Background
- 3Hypersonica raises €100m for AI missile defense
Sifted · November 2, 2026 · Background
- 4Helsing CEO backs Mindmax in £2.5m raise
Sifted · November 5, 2026 · Related
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