A German defense startup that spent its first months quietly building a laser weapon against small drones is done hiding. Ground A stepped out of stealth disclosing a pre-seed round of more than €9M, six months after its founding.
The check was led by Vsquared Ventures. Quantum Systems, itself a defense technology company, joined a group that also included GRIF, Robin Capital, ABACON, Leblon Capital and OVNI Capital.
The startup’s first product, the GA 1000, pairs radar and sensors with computer vision, proprietary AI and precision lasers to detect, classify and track small agile drones. A human operator decides whether to deploy the laser. Weighing under 200 kilograms and sized to a Euro-pallet, the system is designed to integrate with existing air defense and command networks rather than stand alone.
Chief executive Tobias Brune says the first system is in testing and validation, close to market launch, and that Ground A is setting up modular series production in Germany. A bigger financing round is planned for 2027 to expand capacity.
The startup enters a crowded field as drone threats multiply over European infrastructure. Vsquared partner Benedikt von Schoeler argues Europe needs counter-drone systems it can industrialize quickly and field in large numbers, not just high-tech demonstrations, and that mobility and rapid deployment matter as much as raw capability.
