Helsing Secures €450M to Boost European Defense AI Capabilities

Helsing has secured €450 million in a Series C financing round, aimed at primarily supporting AI-based product development and research initiatives to bolster capabilities crucial for European sovereignty, especially in safeguarding NATO's Eastern Flank.

General Catalyst led the round, with participation from Elad Gil, Accel, Saab, Lightspeed, Plural, and Greenoaks.

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.”

Established in 2021, Helsing has been actively involved in defense initiatives, including collaborations with the Ukrainian government and securing notable contracts such as the German Eurofighter Electronic Warfare upgrade with Saab AB and AI infrastructure projects like the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) with the HIS consortium.

The company's expansion plans hinge on pending government approvals related to the financing round.