Jun 19, 2025
German startup Helsing, specialized in artificial intelligence technologies for military use, received a $690 million investment led by Daniel Ek, founder of Spotify. This new funding raised the company’s valuation to $13.8 billion, making it one of the most valuable startups in Europe.
Headquartered in Munich, Helsing is expanding its focus, previously centered on software, to also develop autonomous drones, aircraft, and submarines.
Helsing‘s growth comes amid a global increase in defense spending, intensified by the war in Ukraine. The company has already supplied thousands of attack drones to the country and holds contracts with governments such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and Sweden. It recently tested an autonomous aerial combat system and announced the development of unmanned surveillance submarines.
Daniel Ek had already invested in the startup in 2021, but has now decided to double down, joined by other major investors.
According to Ek, the use of artificial intelligence and autonomy in current conflicts has transformed the dynamics of modern battlefields—this perception is what motivates his strategic decision. Helsing, founded in 2021, also has future plans to go public, but has no intention of being sold.
Despite criticism over involvement in the defense sector, Ek downplays any potential negative impact on his streaming company, viewing the initiative as a response to current security challenges.
Well done. Never mind the critics. They are ignorant and pathetic, or pro-mafia garbage.