San Antonio-based drone maker Darkhive has secured $21 million in Series A funding, led by cybersecurity-focused Ten Eleven Ventures, with participation from Crosslink Capital, RTX Ventures, and Stellar Ventures. This funding builds on the company’s earlier $4 million seed round and its history of defense contracts with the US government. The investment reflects growing interest in secure autonomous drone solutions for national security.
Darkhive develops lightweight reconnaissance drones and a proprietary software platform called FleetForge. FleetForge is a DevSecOps tool designed to securely build, test, and deploy updates for uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS). Accredited by the US Defense Department, the platform addresses cybersecurity challenges while ensuring operational reliability for military users. The company also aims to extend its secure code delivery approach to other IoT devices in defense applications.
CEO John Goodson highlights the challenges facing the current UAS market, including cybersecurity vulnerabilities in Chinese-made drones and the high cost and complexity of American alternatives. Darkhive’s goal is to bridge these gaps by delivering secure, affordable, and intuitive drones for frontline military personnel. Its innovative approach prioritizes adaptability and ease of use, crucial for rapid response in global security scenarios.
Ten Eleven Ventures sees Darkhive’s solutions as critical for enhancing UAS fleet management and secure code delivery in military operations. By addressing the cybersecurity needs of autonomous drones and IoT devices, Darkhive positions itself as a key player in supporting national and allied security. The funding will help accelerate its mission to provide dependable tools that meet the evolving demands of modern warfare.
Reference:
