Imagine a battlefield where decisions are made in milliseconds—not minutes. Where aerial dogfights are aided by AI copilots, and underwater drones silently patrol pipelines for months on end. This isn’t science fiction. It’s Helsing, a German startup that's rapidly becoming one of Europe’s most consequential defense technology players.
Founded in 2021, Helsing blends artificial intelligence with cutting-edge hardware to reshape what warfare looks like in the 21st century. With a staggering €1.37 billion in funding and backing from some of Europe’s most influential investors, Helsing’s mission is clear: give democratic nations a technological edge in a fast-changing world.
Helsing was co-founded by three people with very different, but highly complementary, backgrounds:
Together, the trio have crafted a company that thinks like Silicon Valley but acts like a next-gen aerospace and defense integrator.
At its core, Helsing is a software-first defense company. Its main product is a powerful AI system that ingests data from radars, drones, infrared sensors, audio inputs, and even satellites—then rapidly processes it to provide actionable insights to commanders and troops.
This AI isn’t just about fancy data dashboards. In practical terms, it means:
And crucially, humans remain in the loop. Helsing is outspoken about its commitment to ethical AI—used only by democratic governments and designed to enhance, not replace, human decision-making in warfare.
One of Helsing’s biggest breakthroughs came in 2024, when it partnered with Swedish defense giant Saab to co-develop Centaur—an AI system designed to act as a co-pilot for the Gripen E fighter jet.
This wasn’t a tech demo. In a simulated combat exercise, Centaur went head-to-head against a real fighter pilot in a beyond-visual-range engagement—and held its own. The AI made split-second tactical decisions, optimizing for survival and lethality under complex and dynamic conditions.
This test proved something remarkable: AI can now assist pilots in real combat scenarios, not just autopilot routines. With Centaur, Helsing showed that the AI revolution isn’t limited to ground forces—it’s coming for the skies too.
Helsing has moved rapidly from software to full-blown hardware platforms, designing unmanned systems that are as innovative as they are operationally useful.
Think of it as Europe’s response to the Bayraktar TB2—a combat drone designed for attritable warfare in which cost-effective systems overwhelm expensive traditional hardware.
Both drones represent Helsing’s vision of AI operating across all domains—air, land, sea, and cyber.
Helsing isn’t building tech for hypothetical scenarios. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the company has actively supported Ukrainian defense operations—providing drones, surveillance systems, and AI tools to help soldiers on the frontlines.
This isn’t just charity; it’s a field test. Ukraine has become a live lab for modern warfare, and Helsing is learning—and iterating—in real time. The insights gathered are feeding directly back into product development, making their tools more effective and battle-hardened by the week.
Meanwhile, Helsing is also supplying European partners and NATO allies—ensuring that Europe doesn’t fall behind in a new era of strategic competition.
Helsing has raised €1.37 billion in venture capital—an unheard-of figure for a defense tech startup in Europe. Leading the charge is Prima Materia, the investment firm founded by Spotify co-founder Daniel Ek, who personally believes in the importance of building sovereign European defense capabilities.
Other backers include:
These are not your typical defense contractors. They represent a new class of European tech investors who see defense not as an arms race—but as a moral imperative for free societies.
Helsing has quickly expanded its physical footprint:
This pan-European approach reflects Helsing’s mission to be Europe’s AI defense layer, not just Germany’s.
If you’re an engineer, AI researcher, designer, or product thinker who wants to work on tech that really matters, Helsing is hiring across the board.
Open roles span:
The team is interdisciplinary, mission-driven, and growing fast.
Final Thoughts
In an era of hybrid threats, drone warfare, and geopolitical instability, Europe can no longer afford to outsource its defense tech. Helsing is rising to meet that challenge—not with legacy platforms, but with a radically new approach powered by AI, ethics, and strategic clarity.
This is not just a startup. It’s a new model for how democracies defend themselves.
