🏆 Deal of the Week · CW 33/2025
Stark raised USD 62 million in a venture round at a valuation of USD 500 million, positioning the Berlin-based defense technology company as one of Europe's fastest-rising autonomous-systems startups. Sequoia Capital led the round. The deal was named Deal of the Week for KW 33/2025 by Venionaire DealMatrix.
Stark — key deal facts
| Company | Stark |
| Founded | 2024 |
| Headquarters | Berlin, Germany |
| Amount raised | USD 62m |
| Valuation | USD 500m |
| Round | Venture – Series Unknown |
| Investors | Thiel Capital, Sequoia Capital, Project A Ventures, NATO innovation fund, IQT, Doepfner Capital, 8VC |
| Sectors | AI, Military |
Who invested in Stark?
The round drew capital from Thiel Capital, Sequoia Capital, Project A Ventures, NATO Innovation Fund, IQT, Doepfner Capital, and 8VC. The investor mix is notable for combining top-tier Silicon Valley venture firms with NATO's own innovation vehicle and IQT, the strategic investment arm of the US intelligence community, signaling strong transatlantic institutional confidence in Stark's dual-use technology thesis.
What does Stark do?
Stark is a European defense technology company headquartered in Berlin, Germany, founded in 2024 by Johannes Schaback, Florian Seibel, and Uwe Horstmann, with Horstmann serving as CEO. The company specializes in autonomous unmanned systems and AI for military applications, developing loitering munitions, unmanned surface vessels, and multi-domain command-and-control software. Its core product portfolio includes the OWE-V Virtus loitering munition, the Vanta unmanned surface vessel, and the Minerva mission control software suite. Stark was established in direct response to operational demands exposed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and delivered frontline systems within 13 months of founding, primarily serving European defense agencies and NATO member states including the German Bundeswehr.
Stark valuation & multiples
Frequently asked questions
How much did Stark raise in its Venture – Series Unknown?
Stark raised USD 62 million in a venture round disclosed in 2025.
What is Stark's valuation?
Stark's post-money valuation stands at USD 500 million as reported at the time of the round.
Who invested in Stark?
The round was led by Sequoia Capital and co-invested by Thiel Capital, Project A Ventures, NATO Innovation Fund, IQT, Doepfner Capital, and 8VC.
When was Stark founded and where is it based?
Stark was founded in 2024 and is headquartered in Berlin, Germany.
Source: original announcement — read the full report.