Shield AI

defense ai autonomous-systems drones Artificial Intelligence (AI)Autonomous Vehicles Machine Learning National Security

289 open175 filled

San Diego, CAFounded 20151,381+ employeesGrowth raisedGrowthPrivate

Last round: series g · $2B · Mar 2026(18 rounds total)

Founded by Brandon Tseng“Shield AI's mission is to protect service members and innocent civilians with artificially intelligent systems. Our initial focus is on the last several miles of the battlefield where we lack capability to collect intelligence. This area is beyond the view of high altitude sensors, too dangerous for people, and too complex for robots to navigate. Consequently, service members are asked to make life altering decisions with limited information. Mistakes are made that cost lives and incur massive collateral damage. Such mistakes cause the United States to lose support of local populations and make conflict unwinnable. This problem is widely recognized throughout the DoD, including the most senior leadership. To address this problem, we are building swarms of small intelligent robots to collect the critical missing information. The systems will scour indoor and outdoor spaces in search of threats and innocent people. They will be deployed by people, trucks, ships, aircraft, and other robots. These robots will become more numerous in combat areas than soldiers. Synthesized information will be presented to service members who will be empowered to make decisions leading to intended outcomes without collateral damage. Conflict becomes less brutal.”

Backed by(34 investors)

DisruptiveRiot VenturesAdvent InternationalSnowpoint VenturesJP Morgan ChaseBlackstone GroupWashington Harbour PartnersAndreessen HorowitzBreyer CapitalHanwha AerospaceHercules CapitalL3Harris TechnologiesPoint72 VenturesSVB CapitalUS Innovative Technology Fund

Shield AI is a defense technology company building the world's best AI pilot. Their Hivemind AI enables autonomous operations for aircraft, including the V-BAT team drone, without requiring GPS, communications, or a human pilot.

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