Polish Startup Orbotix Raises €6.5M to Advance Autonomous Defense Drones in Europe
Orbotix Industries, a Warsaw-based defense technology firm, has closed a €6.5 million funding round to enhance its AI-driven autonomous drone systems and expand manufacturing capacity throughout the European Union. The round was led by Bravo Victor Venture Capital. Additional participation came from investment firm Gustav Söhne Verwaltung GmbH & Co. KG and Romanian venture capital firm, Leryon Global Holdings, from whom the company had previously received approximately €492,000 in debt financing.
Orbotix was founded in 2023 in Brasov, Romania by Bogdan Ochiana of Romania, also an Investment Partner at Leryon Global Holdings; Sebastian Straube of Poland; and Gregory Letare of Switzerland, largely in response to the invasion of Ukraine. The concept for Orbotix allegedly originated with Letare, who held the title of CEO until at least August 2025. Letare has served for nearly a decade in the Swiss Armed Forces and is now a Tactical Validation Leader for Red Forges, a defense tech advisory firm.
Having recently relocated headquarters to Warsaw, Orbotix’ operations extend to Romania, Ukraine, Estonia, and Spain. The company focuses on developing AI-powered autonomous defense solutions for military and security applications tailored to European operational requirements and terrains. Orbotix’s primary products include the Autonomous Target Acquisition (ATA) System for rapid threat detection and the Wasper-1 Drone Swarming platform designed for cost-effective defense operations.
According to Bogdan Ochiana, Co-founder and current CEO: “This investment is more than just capital - it’s a signal that the EU is ready to elevate defense to its full potential. Our generation will be measured by how we rise to the challenge now, not tomorrow, and we are proud to be among the innovators safeguarding the peace and prosperity our forefathers fought to achieve.”
Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Sebastian Straube, added: “This marks not only a milestone for Orbotix, but also underscores the strategic importance of building such capabilities within Europe, with the emergence of a company like ours on the Eastern Flank ensuring that the region most exposed to modern threats leads in developing the technologies that will safeguard Europe’s future.”
The new funding will primarily be directed toward accelerating the company’s AI capabilities, including advancements in drone swarming technology. Furthermore, it will facilitate the establishment of distributed micro-manufacturing sites across the European Union, ensuring product development and production remain aligned with sovereign control objectives.
Joe Musselman, Founder & Managing Partner of Bravo Victor Venture Capital, characterized the investment as a strategic step towards European defense autonomy. Musselman stated that swarm autonomy will significantly influence future battlefield outcomes and Orbotix is currently building such capabilities at scale under allied oversight: “Swarm autonomy will decide outcomes on tomorrow’s battlefields. Orbotix is building it now, in Europe, at scale, and under allied control.” Musselman added that BVVC supports founders who expedite timelines and transition prototypes into production rapidly, emphasizing the necessity for collaboration among the United States and its allies.
Related:
Enhancing soldier safety: Interview with Orbotix Technologies CEO Gregory Letare