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German defence tech startup Helsing has secured €600M in funding to develop AI-powered military technologies. The Munich-based company, which has recently chosen Estonia as one of its prime locations for expansion, is working to make Europe less dependent on foreign defence systems during uncertain times.
Founded in 2021 by Gundbert Scherf, Niklas Köhler, and Torsten Reil, Helsing has now raised over €1B in total funding. This latest Series D round was led by Prima Materia, the investment firm founded by Spotify’s Daniel Ek, who also serves as Helsing’s Chairman.
It was also supported by Lightspeed Ventures, Accel, and General Catalyst, plus Estonian VC fund Plural, co-founded by Sten Tamkivi and Taavet Hinrikus. Plural partner Khaled Helioui commented on X that the firm is confident that Helsing will become the next €100 billion-plus company.
Why the big bet
Helsing specialises in artificial intelligence for military applications across all defence areas—air, land, sea, space, and cyber. Their product line includes autonomous surveillance systems, decision support platforms, various drones, and unmanned systems.
Estonian Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur and Gundbert Scherf, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Helsing
The company operates not just in Germany but has expanded across Europe, including a presence in Estonia since 2024 with a commitment to invest €70M. “Europe is rapidly strengthening its defence capabilities in response to evolving geopolitical challenges. There’s an urgent need for investments in advanced technologies that ensure strategic autonomy and security readiness,” said Daniel Ek.
The new funding will help Helsing accelerate the development of its AI-powered defence systems and strengthen its position as Europe’s leading defence tech innovator. Estonia is also rapidly building its defence technology sector, opening a €100M Defence fund, as well as offering investor incentives and other opportunities.
