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Based in Kyiv, Ukraine, Deftak develops high-precision ammunition and tactical strike systems for unmanned aerial vehicles operating independently of GPS in severe electronic warfare environments. The company's combat-tested technology integrates with existing reconnaissance drones to convert them into precision strike platforms capable of functioning at altitudes up to 10 kilometers. Targeting Ukraine's defense forces and NATO allies, these hardware solutions are designed to be up to 10 times cheaper than traditional military munitions. To scale its manufacturing, production, and development efforts, the defense technology startup has raised €600,000 in venture funding, led by the defense-focused investment fund Darkstar and its co-founder Ragnar Sass. Deftak was originally established following a regional drone hackathon victory in 2022 by founder Andrii Romanenko alongside a technical team featuring a nuclear physicist and former engineers from Google and Facebook.
Deftak has raised $680K across 1 funding round.
Deftak has raised $680K in total across 1 funding round.
Deftak is a Ukrainian-Estonian defense tech startup developing GPS-independent, high-precision ammunition for drones, converting reconnaissance UAVs into precision strike weapons even under electronic warfare jamming.[1][2][3] Its edge-operated system integrates with nearly any airborne platform, operates at altitudes up to 10 km, is combat-tested, and costs up to 10 times less than traditional munitions, serving Ukraine's defense forces and NATO allies by addressing battlefield vulnerabilities in GPS-denied environments.[1][2][3] The company raised €600K from Darkstar in 2025 to scale manufacturing and product development, building on early wins like the Drone Hackathon 1.0 victory in 2022 and accelerator programs.[1][2]
Deftak originated at a hackathon in 2022, where CEO Andrii Romanenko assembled the founding team: a nuclear physicist who codes, a mathematician with Google and Facebook experience, and others with entrepreneurial backgrounds from startups and tech firms like Megogo and EPAM.[1][3][4] This rare expertise enabled rapid development of deep tech for jam-resistant drone munitions amid Ukraine's war realities.[1] Early traction included winning Drone Hackathon 1.0 in August 2022, joining the Army of Drones accelerator, securing grants in June and October 2023, and completing the 1991 acceleration program that summer, proving real-world viability through combat testing.[2]
Deftak rides the surge in autonomous defense tech driven by Ukraine's high-tech war, where drone swarms and EW jamming demand GPS-free solutions amid NATO's push for affordable, scalable munitions.[1][2][3] Timing aligns with escalating global conflicts and Europe's defense rearmament, amplified by investors like Darkstar fostering a NATO-aligned ecosystem via bootcamps and funding.[1] Market forces—rapid EW evolution, cheap drone proliferation, and grant programs—favor Deftak's combat-validated tech, influencing the ecosystem by accelerating edge AI in munitions and bridging innovators with militaries.[1][2]
Deftak's combat edge positions it for explosive growth via manufacturing scale-up and NATO expansion post-€600K raise, potentially dominating low-cost, jam-proof drone ammo.[1][2][3] Trends like AI-driven autonomy and hybrid warfare will propel it, with team expansion (e.g., operations hires) enabling partnerships and exports.[2][4] Its influence may evolve from Ukraine's frontline innovator to a key NATO supplier, solidifying the GPS-independent advantage that hooked investors like Darkstar from day one.[1]
Deftak has raised $680K across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $680K Seed in May 2025.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2025 | $680K Seed | — | Icebreaker.vc, Project A Ventures, Anya Ruvinskaya, Chris Schagen | Announced |
Deftak has raised $680K in total across 1 funding round.
Deftak's investors include Icebreaker.vc, Project A Ventures, Anya Ruvinskaya, Chris Schagen.
