Stark, a German defense tech startup specializing in weaponized drone systems, has secured $62 million in new funding, led by Sequoia Capital. This investment values the company at $500 million, positioning it as one of Europe’s rapidly growing startups in the military technology sector.
Since its inception in 2024, Stark has amassed a total of $100 million in funding. Notably, it has also garnered support from influential figures such as Peter Thiel, the American-German billionaire and Palantir cofounder, known for his interest in dual-use technologies.
Sequoia Capital, which seldom invests in European defense firms, has not publicly discussed the investment.
Stark was established by Florian Seibel, the cofounder and CEO of Quantum Systems, a German drone company that produces autonomous aerial systems for both commercial and military clients.
Stark is dedicated to developing and manufacturing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) designed for combat. This niche within the broader drone market has gained increasing importance, especially with global geopolitical tensions and the war in Ukraine.
In July 2025, Stark expanded into the UK by opening a new drone production facility, aiming to enter one of Europe’s most dynamic defense markets. The UK has experienced a rise in defense technology investment and government-backed procurement programs, supporting sovereign drone capabilities.
Stark’s rapid growth mirrors a broader trend in European venture capital, where defense and dual-use technologies, once avoided, are now gaining substantial attention and funding. The war in Ukraine, heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait, and renewed NATO defense commitments have fueled interest in sovereign military capabilities and next-generation battlefield technologies.
Highlighting its broader goals, Stark recently acquired Berlin-based Pleno, a startup specializing in autonomous navigation software, to enhance its drone swarming capabilities.
This trend includes startups working on AI-enabled surveillance, autonomous systems, and next-gen weapons platforms, areas where European innovators are catching up to their American and Israeli peers.
European governments have also indicated a shift in procurement and industrial policy. In Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s “Zeitenwende” doctrine has unlocked tens of billions of euros in defense spending, while the UK and France are encouraging more domestic innovation in military technology.
With $100 million in total funding and an expanding international presence, Stark is now a key player among Europe’s most well-supported defense startups, alongside companies like Helsing, ARX Robotics, and the increasingly dual-use Quantum Systems.