Protection tech startup Epirus, which focuses on anti-drone programs, has raised an oversubscribed $250 million Collection D, it informed TechCrunch.
Epirus, based mostly in Torrance, California, was beforehand valued at $1.35 billion for its $200 million Collection C in 2022, per its announcement on the time. Epirus didn’t give a particular valuation for this spherical, however confirmed to TechCrunch that it’s over $1 billion. (Bloomberg reported in January 2025 that Epirus was elevating this spherical at a decrease valuation than its Collection C.)
The Collection D was co-led by 8VC and Washington Harbour Companions LP, a D.C. based mostly funding agency. Different buyers embrace Gaingels and Basic Dynamics Land Methods, a subsidiary of one of many U.S.’ largest protection contractors.
This brings the whole raised by Epirus to over $550 million. Its standing as a unicorn places it amongst comparatively few protection techs in that league. There’s Anduril, which is elevating at a $28 billion valuation, plus Defend AI which is reportedly elevating at $5 billion, and Saronic, which was valued at $4 billion in its newest spherical.
Epirus’ flagship product is Leonidas, which beams high-powered electromagnetic pulses at drones because it strikes throughout the battlefield. Epirus has gained quite a few U.S. navy contracts, together with a $66 Military million deal from 2023, per its website.
Joe Lonsdale, one in all Epirus’ co-founders and the managing accomplice of 8VC, touted Leonidas because the “greatest safety in opposition to drone swarms in the present day” in a press release despatched to TechCrunch. (Lonsdale can also be a co-founder of Palantir.)
Epirus says it plans to make use of the funds to develop into worldwide and industrial markets. The agency additionally says it’s going to spend money on rising its staff, enhancing its provide chain resiliency, and opening a brand new simulation heart in Oklahoma to coach troopers.