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Ukrainian Startup Swarmer Secures $15M in Record-Breaking Defense Tech Funding Round
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Ukrainian startup Swarmer, co-founded by Serhiy Kuprienko and Alex Fink in May 2023, has raised $15 million from leading US investment funds, marking the largest investment in Ukraine’s defense technology sector since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Delo.ua reported on October 13.
Earlier support from the D3 fund, backed by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, laid the groundwork for the Series A round. Forbes estimates the company’s valuation valuation to be between $35 million and $70 million.
Swarmer develops AI-powered solutions allowing a single operator to control multiple drones simultaneously. Its flagship Swarmer Platform and Styx AI system synchronize drone operations, addressing critical front-line challenges, including a shortage of trained pilots. The technology has already been tested on more than 82,000 real-world missions, Serhiy Kuprienko told Delo.ua.
Kuprienko explained that development began in 2020, with initial funding of $70,000, followed by a $2.9 million seed round in 2023. The Series A funds will be allocated to further R&D, scaling, partnerships, and combat testing.
Operators retain final decision-making authority over target engagement, ensuring human oversight despite automated coordination. Swarmer’s technology is currently focused on aerial drones but can integrate with other robotic platforms.
Kuprienko emphasized Ukraine’s leadership in drone innovation, noting that while Russia possesses greater resources, Swarmer’s speed and agility provide a strategic edge. The startup aims to accelerate development to keep pace with evolving battlefield technology.
“That is why I am glad that we managed to raise investments in a large round. We need a lot of resources to accelerate development as much as possible. We are a startup, and in Ukraine, especially in the defense sector, we have to be a hundred times faster than others,” he stressed.
Previously, it was reported that the United Kingdom and Ukraine have agreed to jointly produce interceptor drones intended to counter the swarms of Shahed-type attack drones used against Ukrainian infrastructure, with initial output estimated at about 2,000 units per month.
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