press— Stark, a German defence tech startup focused on weaponised drone systems, has raised $62 million in fresh funding, with Sequoia Capital leading the round. The investment reportedly values the company at $500 million, making it one of Europe’s fastest-scaling startups in the military technology sector.

The funding round brings Stark’s total capital raised to $100 million since its founding in 2024. The company has also attracted backing from influential figures including Peter Thiel, the American-German billionaire and Palantir cofounder known for his interest in dual-use technologies.

Sequoia Capital, which rarely backs European defence companies, has not yet publicly commented on the deal.

Stark was founded by Florian Seibel, cofounder and CEO of German drone company Quantum Systems, which builds autonomous aerial systems for commercial and military clients.

Stark’s mission is to develop and manufacture unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) designed for combat, a segment of the broader drone market that has gained increasing strategic attention amid global geopolitical instability and the war in Ukraine.

In July 2025, Stark also expanded into the UK, opening a new drone production facility as part of a push into one of Europe’s most active defence markets. The UK has seen a spike in defence tech investment and government-backed procurement programmes, including new initiatives supporting sovereign drone capabilities.

Stark’s fast-growing profile is emblematic of a broader shift in European venture capital, where defence and dual-use technologies, once considered off-limits, are increasingly receiving serious attention and funding. The war in Ukraine, heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait, and renewed NATO defence pledges have accelerated interest in sovereign military capabilities and next-generation battlefield technologies.