In a significant development for national security software solutions, Defense Unicorns, a Colorado Springs-based startup, has successfully secured $35 million in a Series A funding round. The funding was led by Sapphire Ventures and Ansa Capital, bringing the company’s total raised capital to $35.5 million. Founded in 2021, Defense Unicorns focuses on providing open source software and AI capabilities designed to facilitate continuous delivery in national security systems. Their solutions are versatile, deployable in various environments, including air-gapped systems, and operate seamlessly in the cloud, on-premises, and in edge situations.
Defense Unicorns’ product portfolio encompasses advanced tools such as Zarf for continuous software delivery on air-gapped networks, LeapfrogAI, a self-hosted generative AI platform for disconnected networks, Pepr for Kubernetes resource management, and Lula for real-time monitoring of deployed software’s configuration and compliance. The startup’s AI capabilities have already been deployed in classified environments to support U.S. military operations globally. With a recent $300 million Department of Defense contract, Defense Unicorns is set to accelerate software and generative AI solutions in classified and air gap environments, contributing to various Air Force and Navy programs. The fresh investment of $35 million will further fuel the company’s mission-focused capabilities and expansion plans, intending to grow its current employee base of 125.
