Norwegian defense tech startup Stendr has secured $5.4 million in pre-seed funding to develop advanced artificial intelligence capabilities for modern weapons systems.
The substantial round, one of the largest early-stage investments in Nordic defense history, was led by Rainfall, ACME, and Skyfall, with support from Startup Lab, Antler, and angel investors.
Stendr is helmed by CEO Aleksander Leonard Larsen, a co-founder of Sky Mavis Inc., the developer behind the blockchain game Axie Infinity. Larsen is now shifting his focus from digital assets to national security, aiming to build a foundational technology stack for a new "Nordic defense prime."
The company is targeting drone defense, recognizing the limitations of traditional air defense systems against autonomous drones, as demonstrated in recent conflicts. "The nature of warfare has changed," Larsen stated. "Drones are cheap, autonomous and everywhere. Defense systems built for a previous era cannot keep pace."
Stendr's AI-native platform will integrate hardware and software for drone detection, tracking, and real-time threat intelligence. The startup's long-term vision is to offer NATO members a responsive "Nordic alternative" for rapid development of new defense systems.