Ex-unicorn founder raises $5.4M round for a defence startup to counter drones — TFN

Aleksander Leonard Larsen, co‑founder of Sky Mavis, has launched Stendr, a Norwegian defence technology company, and closed an oversubscribed pre‑seed round of $5.4 million to build AI‑powered drone detection and defence systems. The funding round — described by TFN as one of the largest in Nordic defence tech history — was co‑led by RainFall, ACME and SkyFall, with participation from Sisyphus, Antler, StartupLab, Off Piste, Andøya Ventures and a global angel syndicate of technology founders and investors.

"Rather than focusing on a single detection or jamming product, the company aims to become the foundational technology provider for a new Nordic defence leader," TFN reported.

Stendr positions itself as a vertically integrated, full‑stack supplier that combines hardware and software with AI at the core and an emphasis on European sovereignty. TFN’s coverage notes the company will take a different route from single‑product offerings by seeking to supply a broader platform for counter‑drone operations.

Funding, market and competitive context

• Round size: $5.4 million pre‑seed, oversubscribed.
• Lead investors: RainFall, ACME, SkyFall; other participants include Sisyphus, Antler, StartupLab, Off Piste and Andøya Ventures.
• Market outlook: Europe’s counter‑drone market was $1.24 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $4.16 billion by 2030 at a 27.5% annual growth rate, according to TFN.
• Regional procurement drivers: TFN cites the EU’s ReArm Europe programme and Germany’s $12 billion commitment to a drone arsenal as accelerants for procurement across the continent.
• Competitive landscape: established defence firms Thales, Leonardo and Rafael are active in counter‑drone systems; DroneShield generated $98 million in European revenue in 2025. Nordic Air Defence, a local rival, raised $4.4 million in pre‑seed funding in 2025.

Team and strategic advantage

• Founder: Aleksander Leonard Larsen, co‑founder and former COO of Sky Mavis, which built Axie Infinity — a collection that reached $4.2 billion in volume, $1.3 billion in revenue and a $3 billion valuation after a $152 million raise from Andreessen Horowitz, Accel and Paradigm.
• CTO: Robin Alexander Holm Pedersen, with 15 years of experience in AI systems, digital identity infrastructure and hardware, and roles at Brønnøysundregistrene and Norges Bank.
• Head of Hardware: Markus Leonhard Hansen, co‑founder of Gungnir of Norway, who led a hardware product from concept to global recognition over seven years.
• Location advantage: TFN highlights Norway’s strategic position — one of NATO’s longest land borders with Russia, a critical North Atlantic coastline and a national commitment to spend 2% of GDP on defence — and the presence of Andøya’s autonomous systems test facility as a validation pathway.

"The true test will be securing the first government procurement relationship and achieving deployment of certified hardware," TFN wrote, underscoring the next milestones for Stendr as it moves from R&D toward fielded systems. The pre‑seed capital is intended to give the team runway to develop AI‑native, full‑stack products while pursuing certification and initial procurement contracts across Europe.