Smack Technologies
Category: AI in Defense / Aerospace
Frontier AI lab for national security, building domain-specific AI models for military decision-making Smack Technologies was founded in 2024. The company is led by Andrew "Andy" Markoff. Based in El Segundo, California, United States. Team size: 11-50. Total funding raised: $32M. Latest round: Series A. Key investors include Geodesic Capital, Costanoa Ventures, Point72 Ventures, Felicis, First In, Scribble Ventures, Bloomberg Beta, Washington Harbour Partners, Palumni VC, Fulcrum Venture Group, Anomaly Fund, Fortitude Ventures.
- Founded
- 2024
- Headquarters
- El Segundo, California, United States
- Team size
- 11-50
- Total funding
- $32M
Value proposition
Delivers "Decision Dominance" to the U.S. Department of War and allies by training domain-specific AI models using deep reinforcement learning in proprietary synthetic warfare environments, enabling commanders to turn battlefield and sensor data into optimized decisions in seconds
Products and solutions
Omega (command-level AI stack combining Cage 1.0 model with customer-specific applications for strategic-to-tactical decision making), Alpha (edge-level AI stack with Diet Cage 1.0 lightweight model and proprietary hardware for frontline tactical decisions), Cage 1.0 (proprietary command-level model for multimodal data fusion and reasoning), Diet Cage 1.0 (lightweight edge model), Applications across Fires, Logistics, Intelligence, Information, and Force Protection warfighting functions
Unique value
First dedicated "Frontier AI Lab for National Security" — models trained by warfighters (ex-MARSOC operators) using deep RL in synthetic warfare environments grounded in adversary tactics, multi-domain physics, and operational constraints, unlike general-purpose LLMs not optimized for military use
Target customer
U.S. Department of War (DoW), U.S. armed forces branches, allied defense organizations
Industries served
Defense / National Security / Military
Technology advantage
Deep reinforcement learning (MADDPG algorithms) trained in proprietary synthetic warfare environments; domain-specific models grounded in real combat physics and adversary tactics; multimodal data fusion across the kill chain; edge-deployable lightweight models (Diet Cage) on proprietary hardware; warfighter-led development team with decades of MARSOC/Palantir experience
How they differentiate
Unlike Shield AI (autonomous aircraft) and Anduril (Lattice platform for autonomous systems), Smack focuses specifically on AI-driven decision superiority across the full kill chain using deep RL trained in synthetic warfare environments, rather than hardware-centric or sensor-focused approaches. Founded and led by actual warfighters (MARSOC veterans) rather than defense tech outsiders
Main competitors
Shield AI, Anduril Industries, Rebellion Defense
Key partnerships
Joint Fires Network (JFN) — prototyping contract, Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL) — prototyping contract
Notable customers
U.S. Joint Fires Network (JFN), U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL)
Major milestones
Founded 2024 by MARSOC veterans, Secured prototyping contracts with JFN and MCWL, Raised $32M in combined Seed + Series A (March 2026), Hired John Falcone (ex-Navy, DIU) as Head of RLHF, Hired Frank Bantell as VP of Technology, Hired CJ Scrapper (ex-JFN Chief Engineer) as VP of Decision Dominance
Market positioning
Early-stage defense AI startup positioned as the first dedicated Frontier AI Lab for National Security, targeting the $14B+ defense AI market. Competes against much larger players (Anduril at $30B+ valuation, Shield AI at $12.7B) by focusing on decision-making AI rather than autonomous hardware platforms
Geographic focus
United States (primary), with stated intent to serve allied nations
About Andrew "Andy" Markoff
Ex-MARSOC (Marine Forces Special Operations Command) officer; Palantir Technologies operations; Georgetown University
Latest news about Smack Technologies
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Official website: https://smacktechnologies.com