SWARM Biotactics, a developer of bio-robotic systems utilizing controlled living insects for various operations, announced a €13 million seed funding round. The company's technology involves equipping insects with sensor backpacks for data collection in challenging environments. This funding builds upon a previous €3 million pre-seed round, bringing the total raised to €13 million.
The round was led by Vertex Ventures US, Possible Ventures, and Capnamic. Participating investors included several early backers who increased their investments in this oversubscribed round. The funding will be used to transition from research and development to field deployment, including launching operational pilots with defense, national security, and emergency response agencies in Europe and North America. Additional funds will support scaling production of sensor backpacks, neural interfaces, and swarm infrastructure, as well as expanding R&D centers and international operations. Recruitment efforts will focus on expertise in insect neurobiology, embedded AI, field robotics, and dual-use system integration.
"This funding moves us from deep tech to deployment, delivering the infrastructure democracies need to operate more smartly, more safely, and with total tactical awareness," commented Stefan Wilhelm, CEO of SWARM Biotactics.
The global robotics market is a significant sector, though precise figures for bio-robotics are not readily available. SWARM Biotactics aims to leverage its technology in defense, security, and disaster response, all sectors with substantial technological investment.
Boston Dynamics similarly focuses on advanced mobile robots for various industries, including defense and security. Other companies are exploring insect-based robotics, though none have reached the same level of funding or public profile as SWARM Biotactics.
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The company was founded in 2024 and is headquartered in Kassel, Germany, with a U.S. subsidiary in San Francisco.
