Participated · Seed · Dec 2025

Himera is a Ukrainian developer and manufacturer of tactical radios and networking hardware whose current product, the HIMERA 2.0 tactical communications network, is designed to operate in harsh combat conditions. The team is now expanding this foundation into a broader "Comprehensive Resilient Network" that will let every frontline asset—from voice comms and situational-awareness apps to UAVs and ground robots—share data over a single, secure infrastructure. Hardware remains the company’s core know-how, protected largely through trade secrecy rather than patents to avoid exposing details to adversaries. Himera has already landed one contract in the United States and another with a NATO country, using higher-margin export sales to subsidise almost break-even pricing for Ukrainian forces. Management reports quarter-over-quarter growth and expects a sharp acceleration (“rocket” growth) in 2026, though it withholds exact revenue or production volumes for security reasons. Since inception the company has raised more than $3.2 million, including a freshly closed $2.5 million seed round that followed a fast pre-seed completed in three weeks. Competitive differentiation comes from rapid battlefield-driven innovation and an integrated approach that legacy players such as Motorola have yet to match.

Participated · Seed · Nov 2025

Thermopylae is a defense-tech startup founded by 21-year-old Ukrainian engineer Yehor Balytskyi in June. The company is building an ultra-lightweight folding quadcopter that launches from a mortar-style tube, reaches speeds of up to 350 km/h, flies for about 20 minutes, and uses thermal guidance to destroy unmanned aerial vehicles. Each interceptor is expected to cost under $10,000 and can be partially reused if it misses its target, offering a cost-effective counter-UAV solution. The startup aims to combine deep technical expertise with rapid development cycles. With fresh capital, management plans to relocate operations back to Ukraine, conduct field tests with frontline units, and scale manufacturing capacity. To date, Thermopylae has secured $1.6 million in external funding; no revenue or user metrics have been disclosed.