# Stark

Just three deals make up almost half of all VC funding in Germany this year
Pro
Sifted data
August 28, 2026
Just three deals make up almost half of all VC funding in Germany this year
More than a third of all German VC funding since Sifted started tracking in 2024 has gone to just 10 companies
Tom Nugent and Jonathan Sinclair
The 10 robotics startups that raised the biggest rounds in H1 2026
Pro
Sifted data
August 25, 2026
The 10 robotics startups that raised the biggest rounds in H1 2026
Robotics startups in Europe raised more in H1 2026 than the previous two years combined. Here are the big hitters
Tom Nugent
European robotics startups raised more in six months than past two years combined
Pro
Sifted data
August 4, 2026
European robotics startups raised more in six months than past two years combined
Neura Robotics's €1.2bn raise gives continent biggest ever half for robotics funding
Tom Nugent
The 25 companies Europe’s startup insiders watched most closely in H1
Pro
Sifted data
July 8, 2026
The 25 companies Europe’s startup insiders watched most closely in H1
Sifted Pro readership data reveals which European startups and scaleups investors, corporates and advisers were monitoring most actively in H1
Jonathan Sinclair
Drones startup Stark confirms €500m raise backed by Sequoia and Founders Fund
News
June 23, 2026
Drones startup Stark confirms €500m raise backed by Sequoia and Founders Fund
The announcement confirms details exclusively reported by Sifted
Martin Coulter
100+ companies the €5bn Scaleup Europe Fund could back
Pro
List
May 22, 2026
100+ companies the €5bn Scaleup Europe Fund could back
We've been asking investors which companies they think the fund will back
Freya Pratty, Anne Sraders and Federico Scolari
Strike drones startup Stark targeting blockbuster new funding round, sources say
Pro
Exclusive
May 21, 2026
Strike drones startup Stark targeting blockbuster new funding round, sources say
The startup recently won a contract with the German armed forces to supply its kamikaze drones
Anne Sraders
Isembard raises $50m to bolster Europe’s industrial base
News
March 9, 2026
Isembard raises $50m to bolster Europe’s industrial base
The London-based company plans to open 25 new AI factories by the end of the year
Maya Dharampal-Hornby
Inside the Nordic defence tech spending spree: Record startup funding meets big prime partnerships
Pro
Analysis
February 25, 2026
Inside the Nordic defence tech spending spree: Record startup funding meets big prime partnerships
Four years into the Ukraine war, Nordic defence forces and primes are increasingly collaborating with startups
Mimi Billing
Insiders report ‘very anti-US vibe’ at Europe’s top defence conference
Pro
Analysis
February 16, 2026
Insiders report ‘very anti-US vibe’ at Europe’s top defence conference
VC attendees say the Munich Security Conference ‘felt like Slush’
Anne Sraders
Drone startup Stark 'reaches unicorn valuation' following German armed forces deal
News
February 13, 2026
Drone startup Stark 'reaches unicorn valuation' following German armed forces deal
The contract is worth €2.4bn, according to a source close to the company
Mimi Billing
The European defence techs working with governments in 2026
Pro
List
February 2, 2026
The European defence techs working with governments in 2026
Defence startups have been winning contracts and wooing governments as billions flow into the sector
Anne Sraders
The 10 fastest-growing European startup teams in 2025
Pro
Fastest-growing startup teams
December 31, 2025
The 10 fastest-growing European startup teams in 2025
Sifted ranks the top 10 fastest-growing startups by employee growth over the past 12 months
Jonathan Sinclair
Strike drone startup Stark’s military test failures could have ‘damaging’ effect on industry
Pro
Analysis
November 6, 2025
Strike drone startup Stark’s military test failures could have ‘damaging’ effect on industry
Reaction to the buzzy German strike drone startup’s recent military test failures may be overblown — but could damage wider industry
Anne Sraders
Defence tech Stark hires Project A investor Uwe Horstmann as CEO
News
October 16, 2025
Defence tech Stark hires Project A investor Uwe Horstmann as CEO
Horstmann’s firm backed Stark’s latest fundraise
Anne Sraders
Europe’s defence tech M&A deals in 2025
Pro
List
October 13, 2025
Europe’s defence tech M&A deals in 2025
The region's best-funded startups have been shopping around to bolster capabilities as they race to secure commercial contracts
Kai Nicol-Schwarz
Europe’s best-funded defence techs eye acquisitions as they race to commercialise
Pro
Analysis
October 13, 2025
Europe’s best-funded defence techs eye acquisitions as they race to commercialise
Drone makers like Helsing, Stark and Quantum Systems are snapping up companies to enhance their capabilities
Kai Nicol-Schwarz and Anne Sraders
Europe’s fastest-growing defence startup teams in 2025
Pro
Fastest-growing startup teams
September 29, 2025
Europe’s fastest-growing defence startup teams in 2025
Defence startups, fueled by VC hype and money, are rapidly growing their headcounts
Anne Sraders
There are too many drone startups
Pro
Opinion
September 26, 2025
There are too many drone startups
VCs have been piling into drone startups in recent years. Now the market is overcrowded
Anne Sraders
German strike drones startup Stark has raised $62m led by Sequoia
News
August 20, 2025
German strike drones startup Stark has raised $62m led by Sequoia
The startup has raised $100m in total funding
Anne Sraders and Amy Lewin
Why defence tech startups are setting up shop in Britain
Pro
Analysis
July 29, 2025
Why defence tech startups are setting up shop in Britain
From Anduril to Helsing, foreign defence startups are increasingly laying down roots in the UK
Kai Nicol-Schwarz and Anne Sraders
German attack drones startup Stark expands to UK
News
July 17, 2025
German attack drones startup Stark expands to UK
It’s the latest in a flurry of defence techs to establish operations in Britain
Kai Nicol-Schwarz
German AI strike drones maker Stark acquires Berlin startup to boost swarming capabilities
News
July 14, 2025
German AI strike drones maker Stark acquires Berlin startup to boost swarming capabilities
The autonomous strike drones maker was founded in 2024 and is reportedly backed by Peter Thiel
Anne Sraders
Florian Seibel, controversial defence tech unicorn founder, wants to bring the Anduril mindset to Quantum Systems
Pro
The big interview
May 14, 2025
Florian Seibel, controversial defence tech unicorn founder, wants to bring the Anduril mindset to Quantum Systems
The outspoken founder wants to see Quantum Systems through to the end — which could include an IPO as soon as next year
Anne Sraders

# Stark

Just three deals make up almost half of all VC funding in Germany this year

The 10 robotics startups that raised the biggest rounds in H1 2026

European robotics startups raised more in six months than past two years combined

The 25 companies Europe’s startup insiders watched most closely in H1

Drones startup Stark confirms €500m raise backed by Sequoia and Founders Fund

100+ companies the €5bn Scaleup Europe Fund could back

Strike drones startup Stark targeting blockbuster new funding round, sources say

Isembard raises $50m to bolster Europe’s industrial base

Inside the Nordic defence tech spending spree: Record startup funding meets big prime partnerships

Insiders report ‘very anti-US vibe’ at Europe’s top defence conference

Drone startup Stark 'reaches unicorn valuation' following German armed forces deal

The European defence techs working with governments in 2026

The 10 fastest-growing European startup teams in 2025

Strike drone startup Stark’s military test failures could have ‘damaging’ effect on industry

Defence tech Stark hires Project A investor Uwe Horstmann as CEO

Europe’s defence tech M&A deals in 2025

Europe’s best-funded defence techs eye acquisitions as they race to commercialise

Europe’s fastest-growing defence startup teams in 2025

There are too many drone startups

German strike drones startup Stark has raised $62m led by Sequoia

Why defence tech startups are setting up shop in Britain

German attack drones startup Stark expands to UK

German AI strike drones maker Stark acquires Berlin startup to boost swarming capabilities

Florian Seibel, controversial defence tech unicorn founder, wants to bring the Anduril mindset to Quantum Systems