Finnish startup NestAI raises €100M and partners with Nokia to develop AI-powered defense technologies

NestAI, a Finnish startup develops AI systems for drones, autonomous vehicles, and command-and-control platforms, has raised €100 million funding from Nokia and Tesi. Also Nokia and NestAI announced a strategic partnership to advance AI-powered defense solutions. 

About NestAI

• NestAI is a Finland-based startup working on “physical AI” — technologies that bring AI out of software and into real-world systems such as drones, autonomous vehicles, and command-and-control platforms. 
• The company develops AI solutions for unmanned vehicles, autonomous operations, and C2 systems used in logistics, inspection, surveillance, security, and defense.

Investment details 

The round was backed by Nokia and Tesi.

• Tesi (officially Finnish Industry Investment Ltd) is a state-owned, market-driven investment company that invests in venture capital and private equity funds and directly in Finnish startups and growth companies, and to new industrial scale businesses.
• Nokia is a global communications technology company focused on fixed, mobile, and transport networks. Its Nokia Defense unit develops secure, AI-driven solutions for defense customers and has launched a defense incubation unit to co-innovate with partners in the U.S., Finland, NATO, and Five Eyes countries.

The partnership will focus on developing defense-oriented, AI-native solutions by combining Nokia’s secure connectivity and sensing technologies with NestAI’s platforms for unmanned systems, C2, and next-generation AI. 

The companies aim to speed up the adoption of AI in unmanned systems and data-centric command and control, strengthening collaboration with European defense forces and other partners.

Read more: Finnish company CHAOS raised €2M to expand its AI-driven real estate intelligence platform across the Nordics and DACH