Estonian defense tech Lendurai secures €5.57M in seed funding to scale autonomous UAV solutions

Lendurai, a Tallinn-based dual-use technology startup focusing on defense and developing autonomous solutions for UAVs operating in GPS- and radio-denied environments, has secured €5.57 million in seed funding. The funding round was led by Expeditions Fund, with participation from HCVC and Vsquared Ventures.

About Lendurai 

• Founded in 2024 by Siim Maivel, Mark Cowan, and Sergii Kharagorgiiev Lendurai provides cost-effective, autonomous navigation solutions for NATO and allied forces, using readily available, mass-produced hardware. 

• Their platform offers GPS-independent operation and interchangeable payloads, ensuring flexibility in complex environments. Unlike traditional FPV drones, Lendurai’s UAVs operate reliably in signal-denied areas with minimal support. 

• Tested in conflict zones, they require just two days of training, making them more efficient and affordable. Lendurai’s systems are NDAA-compliant and ready for both military and commercial use.

“At Lendurai, we’re building high-performance autonomous solutions that are reliable, scalable, and combat-proven. Our on-board autonomy enhances every drone’s capabilities, enabling them to think faster, react smarter, and deliver reliable effects—even in the most challenging electronic warfare environments,” says Siim Maivel, co-founder and CEO of Lendurai.

Investment details

The round was led by Expeditions Fund, with participation from HCVC and Vsquared Ventures.

• Expeditions Fund is a venture capital firm based in Warsaw, Poland, specializing in early-stage investments in deep-tech and dual-use technologies. The firm focuses on sectors such as defense, autonomy, AI, quantum computing, cybersecurity, privacy, communications, and space.

• HCVC is an early-stage venture capital firm specializing in deep-tech and hardtech startups. HCVC operates from Paris, San Francisco, and Tokyo, with a global team dedicated to supporting founders tackling complex technological challenges. 

• Vsquared Ventures is a Munich-based early-stage venture capital firm specializing in deep tech investments across Europe. The firm focuses on six “Generational Growth Themes” (GGTs): AI & next-gen software, energy transition, new computing & sensing, new space, robotics & manufacturing, and tech-bio

The funding will help Lendurai to scale existing products, develop the next phase of the long-term plan, expand global sales and business development, and double the engineering team to focus on machine learning, simulators, and control.