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§ Private Profile · Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
Operating system and cloud platform provider for autonomous robots and drones, enabling mission-ready enterprise and defense fleet management.
Based in Arlington, Virginia, Auterion develops an open-source operating system, cloud fleet management platform, and edge-computing hardware for autonomous robots and drones. Built on the PX4 autopilot standard, the company's software and proprietary Skynode hardware enable onboard flight control, real-time communications, and artificial intelligence integration for uncrewed aerial systems. The business serves defense, government, and enterprise sectors, securing contracts with recognizable entities such as the US Defense Innovation Unit, Quantum-Systems, and KEF Robotics. Operating with a global workforce of over 100 employees, the organization has raised venture capital funding, including a $25 million Series A investment round led by Spark Capital. Recently, the company's technology has been deployed in various defense applications, including uncrewed systems utilized by Ukrainian forces operating in GPS-denied environments. Auterion was founded in 2017 by Lorenz Meier and Kevin Sartori.
Auterion has raised $124.0M across 3 funding rounds.
Auterion has raised $124.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Auterion is a technology company that develops AuterionOS, a vendor-independent operating system for autonomous robots, including drones, multirotors, fixed-wing aircraft, VTOLs, and ground vehicles.[1][2][3][4][5] It serves industries such as public safety, agriculture, energy, utilities, cargo delivery, infrastructure, construction, and defense, solving problems like high-risk tasks, repetitive operations, precise inspections, and military targeting by enabling fleet management, mission planning, real-time data processing, and jam-resistant autonomy.[1][3][4][5] The company demonstrates strong growth momentum through innovations like the Nemyx drone swarm system launched in September 2025 for coordinated strikes, Skynode S for kinetic military use with electronic warfare immunity, and partnerships with NXP Semiconductors and GE Aviation, alongside recognition by the U.S. government as a drone program standard.[2][3][5][6]
Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, with research in Zurich, Switzerland, Auterion powers scalable robotic fleets via its integrated software stack, including APIs for custom integrations, Auterion Suite for cloud-based analytics, and Mission Control for intuitive operations, reducing human risk and operational costs.[3][4][5][7]
Auterion was founded in 2017 by Lorenz Meier, a pioneer in drone technology who created the Pixhawk autopilot, MAVLink communication protocol, and PX4 flight control software—core open-source technologies widely adopted in commercial and defense drones.[1][3] Meier, as CEO, drew from over a decade of leadership in the open-source autonomy movement to address the shift toward network-centric operations for autonomous systems.[2][3]
The idea emerged from Meier's work on foundational drone tech, evolving into a full operating system to unify diverse robots for tasks from delivery to defense. Early traction came via government adoption and real-world tests, such as jam-resistant drones in Ukraine starting December (year unspecified in sources), pivotal for proving resilience in contested environments.[1][3] Auterion Government Solutions later formed as a business unit to blend commercial speed with defense expertise, partnering with the U.S. Department of Defense and OEMs.[3]
Auterion rides the autonomous robotics trend, shifting from single-device control to network-centric fleets amid rising demand for drones in defense, logistics, and inspection—fueled by geopolitical conflicts like Ukraine, where jam-resistant UAVs counter electronic warfare.[1][2][3] Timing is ideal as military needs for scalable, low-cost autonomy accelerate, with U.S. programs standardizing Auterion tech to compete against Chinese dominance; commercial applications benefit from the same resilient stack for infrastructure and delivery.[3][5][6]
Market forces favoring Auterion include open-source momentum lowering barriers, partnerships (e.g., GE for long-range VTOL, NXP for UAS hardware), and regulatory pushes for beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations.[4][6] It influences the ecosystem by promoting common standards via Auterion Government Solutions, enabling OEMs and developers to build interoperable systems, thus accelerating adoption across air, land, and sea robotics.[3][4]
Auterion is poised to dominate autonomous computing with its battle-tested, affordable software stack, expanding from defense wins like Nemyx swarms and Skynode to commercial fleets in cargo, energy, and public safety.[2][3][5] Upcoming trends—AI-driven swarming, long-range strikes (up to 1,000 miles), and deeper DoD integrations—will shape its path, potentially capturing market share as drone costs drop and EW threats grow.[1][5]
Its influence may evolve into the de facto OS for unified robot workforces, outpacing rivals through open ecosystems and pricing that empowers democracies and enterprises alike, building on its open-source legacy to redefine high-risk autonomy.[2][3]
Auterion has raised $124.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $4.0M Seed in January 2026.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26, 2026 | $4M Seed | — | — | Announced |
| Sep 1, 2025 | $110M Series B | Bessemer Venture Partners | Lakestar, Costanoa Ventures, Mosaic Ventures | Announced |
| Sep 1, 2018 | $10M Seed | — | Alumni Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, Caffeinated Capital, Lakestar, Operator Partners, Tiger Global Management, Y Combinator, Jerod Mayo, Greg Sands, Toby Coppel, Tectonic Ventures | Announced |
Auterion has raised $124.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Auterion's investors include Bessemer Venture Partners, Lakestar, Costanoa Ventures, Mosaic Ventures, Alumni Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, Caffeinated Capital, Operator Partners, Tiger Global Management, Y Combinator, Jerod Mayo, Greg Sands.