Munich-based ARX Robotics, specializing in scalable robotic systems for various applications, has successfully closed a €9 million seed funding round. This marks the largest seed round for a European defense tech company to date.
ARX Robotics was founded by Marc Wietfeld, Stefan Röbel, and Maximilian Wied, former soldiers turned entrepreneurs. Their combined military expertise, engineering skills, and business acumen aim to transform the robotics industry, contributing to European tech resilience and sovereignty. The new funds will be used to expand their team and scale production capabilities across Europe.
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Key Investors and Support
The investment round was led by the NATO Innovation Fund, with additional support from Discovery Ventures and Project A Ventures. Chris O’Connor from the NATO Innovation Fund emphasized the importance of ARX’s work in preparing for future unmanned warfare, stating, “Ground autonomy remains a difficult problem to solve, and ARX’s modular ground system offers a cost-effective, easily deployable solution.”
ARX’s Groundbreaking Solutions
Central to ARX’s innovations is the GEREON unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) series, designed for various defense scenarios including live fire training, simulation, transport, medical evacuation, and reconnaissance missions. The GEREON series allows for easy customization and integration of various add-ons and payload solutions to meet specific operational needs.
Marc Wietfeld, CEO and co-founder, highlighted the need for interconnected, autonomous systems to enhance the capabilities of Western democracies’ armed forces. “ARX is committed to contributing to European technological sovereignty by scaling up production and developing adaptive hardware for robust autonomous systems,” he said.
Deployment and Applications
GEREON robots have already been deployed and tested by European armies in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, and Ukraine, enhancing situational awareness in both training and operational deployments. ARX Robotics‘ solutions are not limited to defense; they also support commercial and humanitarian roles, such as monitoring critical infrastructure, providing transport in disaster zones, and navigating rough terrain.
Technological Integration
ARX Robotics integrates hardware, modular design, and advanced software to produce cost-effective unmanned ground systems. The company’s platforms allow for rapid field configuration without tools, using off-the-shelf hardware components and AI to create intelligent, networked robots. Software updates are conducted over-the-air, ensuring systems remain up-to-date.
With this significant funding, ARX Robotics is set to drive innovation and enhance defense and commercial capabilities across Europe, contributing to safer and more efficient operations in various sectors.
