Stendr closed a pre-seed funding round to develop AI-native hardware and software for drone defence, supporting the rapid deployment of sovereign defence technologies in Europe.
Stendr, a Norwegian defence technology company, has raised $5.4 million in an oversubscribed pre-seed funding round to advance its AI-native platform. The round was co-led by RainFall, ACME, and SkyFall, with participation from Sisyphus, Antler, StartupLab, Off Piste, and Andøya Ventures, alongside a syndicate of global technology founders and investors.
Headquartered in Oslo, Stendr is developing a vertically integrated technology stack that combines hardware and software with artificial intelligence at its core.
The company’s initial focus is on drone defence, leveraging AI-driven multi-sensor systems embedded in cost-efficient hardware platforms to support detection, tracking, and situational awareness in modern operational environments.
Aleksander Leonard Larsen, co-founder and CEO of Stendr, noted that modern warfare has evolved significantly, with the widespread availability of low-cost, autonomous drones outpacing the capabilities of traditional defence systems.
At Stendr, we are building the technology to find them, track them, and give defenders the information to act, fully sovereign to Europe.
The founding team brings extensive experience across technology, artificial intelligence, and hardware development, with backgrounds in scaling technology companies and delivering complex engineering projects.
The newly secured funding will be used to accelerate the development of Stendr’s AI-driven multi-sensor technology, expand its engineering and hardware capabilities, and support the deployment of its platform for defence applications.
Through these efforts, the company aims to contribute to the advancement of sovereign and adaptable defence technologies in Europe.