Tekever designs and operates AI-powered unmanned aircraft systems for defence, maritime patrol and border surveillance. Founded in Lisbon in 2001 by Ricardo Mendes and classmates from Instituto Superior Técnico, the company sells surveillance as a subscription service, bundling its AR3 and AR5 aircraft with sensors, communications and AI data processing. Its drones have logged more than 50,000 operational flight hours over Ukraine since 2022 and patrol the English Channel for the UK Home Office. In September 2026 the British Army selected the AR5 for the CORVUS programme, a contract worth up to £400 million over ten years.
Tekever designs and operates AI-powered unmanned aircraft systems for defence, maritime patrol and border surveillance. Founded in Lisbon in 2001 by Ricardo Mendes and classmates from Instituto Superior Técnico, the company sells surveillance as a subscription service, bundling its AR3 and AR5 aircraft with sensors, communications and AI data processing. Its drones have logged more […]
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€498,000,000
Total raised
$6.4B
Valuation
900
Employees
2001
Founded
Latest round
Series D+ - September 23, 2026
Series D+ - €498,000,000
September 23, 2026 · Read the story
Announced as USD 580M first close of the Series D at a USD 6.4B post-money valuation (EUR amount is a desk conversion at ~1.165). Co-leads: UC Investments (University of California - first direct investment in Europe) and Baillie Gifford. New strategic investor: Merlyn Advisors. Returning participants: Crescent Cove, Ventura Capital, Iberis Capital. Further closings expected in the coming months per the company. Corroborated by the company announcement, Reuters, Tech.eu and Tech Funding News, all 23 Sep 2026.
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