Arkeus
Category: AI in Defense / Aerospace
Arkeus builds AI-powered hyperspectral sensing systems that serve as the "eyes and brain" for autonomous defense platforms, enabling real-time perception and decision-making in contested and degraded environments. Arkeus was founded in 2020. The company is led by Simon Olsen. Based in Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Team size: 51-200. Total funding raised: $25.7M. Latest round: Series A. Key investors include QIC Ventures; Main Sequence Ventures; Salus Ventures; Beaten Zone Venture Partners; R+VC; Folklore Ventures; DYNE Ventures.
- Founded
- 2020
- Headquarters
- Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Team size
- 51-200
- Total funding
- $25.7M
Value proposition
AI-powered sensing systems built from the ground up for machine perception (not human operators), enabling autonomous platforms to see through degraded visual environments (smoke, dust, haze, humidity) and detect targets up to 8x farther than existing optical systems, with real-time onboard AI processing at the edge.
Products and solutions
Hyperspectral Optical Radar (HSOR) — world's first real-time, wide-area, hyperspectral airborne ISR sensor; Warden — smaller variant for tactical drones; S-HSOR; Optical Terminal Guidance (OTG) seeker system for autonomous munitions; ARK — onboard AI orchestration and data fusion engine; ELMO autonomous imaging sensor; SLICE — Synthetically Lossless Compression Engine
Unique value
Only company building hyperspectral sensors designed specifically for AI consumption rather than human operators, with real-time onboard processing that enables autonomous platforms to see, understand, and act in contested/denied environments without relying on congested communications links.
Target customer
US Department of War (DoD); Australian Department of Defence (Army, Navy, Air Force, Special Operations Command); US civil defense agencies; allied defense forces; drone/UAS manufacturers (AeroVironment, Textron, Tekever, Insitu/Boeing)
Industries served
Defense & Military; Homeland Security; Border Protection; Search & Rescue; Disaster Recovery; Environmental Monitoring; Maritime Security
Technology advantage
World-first real-time hyperspectral optical radar (HSOR) that captures data across the full electromagnetic spectrum (UV through IR); ARK AI orchestration engine for edge processing; sensors designed for AI-native data ingestion (not human-readable); 100% passive operation; ability to detect targets 8x farther than incumbent systems in degraded conditions; spectral signature analysis for decoy detection
How they differentiate
Unlike competitors who build sensors for human operators and then add AI, Arkeus builds sensors from the ground up for AI-native perception — designing the sensor hardware to maximize AI performance rather than human readability. Their hyperspectral approach captures data across the full electromagnetic spectrum simultaneously, enabling detection through degraded visual environments where traditional optical systems fail. The company's ARK AI engine processes all data onboard at the edge, eliminating reliance on congested communications links.
Main competitors
Tonbo Imaging (imaging/sensor systems for defense); OpenWorks Engineering (counter-drone/defense sensors); Anduril Industries (broader defense AI platform)
Key partnerships
MBDA (MOU for optical seeker technology, AUKUS Pillar 2); AeroVironment (HSOR integration on JUMP 20 UAS); Textron; Tekever; Insitu (Boeing subsidiary); Resolute ISR (US DoD contract); Ocius (HSOR for USV); Australian Army (Wide Area Airborne Surveillance Program)
Notable customers
US Department of War; Australian Department of Defence (Army, Navy, Air Force); US SOCOM; US Border Patrol / civil defense agencies
Major milestones
2020: Founded in Melbourne garage; 2020: First contract with Royal Australian Air Force within 6 months; 2023-12: A$4.45M Seed round led by Main Sequence; 2024-09: MOU signed with MBDA (AUKUS Pillar 2); 2025-03: A$5M oversubscribed bridge round; 2025-08: Arkeus INC established in Virginia (US HQ); 2025-09: AeroVironment partnership for HSOR on JUMP 20; 2025-07: A$2.46M IGP Grant for sovereign manufacturing; 2026-05: $18M Series A led by QIC Ventures at $100M valuation
Growth metrics
Revenue grew 8x over 18 months; revenue split shifted from 10:90 to 80:20 US:Australia; team grew to ~55 employees (planning to 2x in 12-18 months); valuation grew 7x from seed to Series A ($100M)
Market positioning
Emerging leader in AI-native defense sensing for autonomous platforms; 80% of revenue from US customers; valued at $100M after Series A; positioned at intersection of hyperspectral sensing, edge AI, and defense autonomy
Geographic focus
United States (primary market, 80% of revenue); Australia (home market); expanding to Europe
Patents and IP
Proprietary Hyperspectral Optical Radar (HSOR) technology; ARK AI orchestration and data fusion engine; SLICE (Synthetically Lossless Compression Engine) for BLOS data dissemination
About Simon Olsen
Ex-Sentient Vision Systems (Business Development Director); Board member of AAUS - Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems; 15+ years in defense, autonomy, and ISR systems
Official website: https://www.arkeus.com