Shield AI Raises $200M at $2.7B Valuation to Scale Autonomous Defense Tech

Shield AI, a defense tech startup, raised $200M in a Series F round at a $2.7B valuation. The round was led by Riot Ventures and US Innovative Technology Fund.

Shield AI develops AI software called Hivemind that enables autonomous flight in high-threat environments. The funding will help scale products and deterrence capabilities.

Shield AI was founded in 2015 and has raised about $773M to date. The $200M round is the largest this year for any defense tech startup.

Venture investment in defense tech has historically lagged other sectors, with only $2.1B invested across 58 deals last year.

However, interest may be growing as Shield AI's massive raise suggests. Other recent large rounds include Anduril's $1.5B Series E last December.