Company intelligence

Helsing

Helsing is Europe's most valuable defense tech startup, building AI software, strike drones, and autonomous systems for European militaries, valued at $18B after a $1.8B Series E in July 2026 — Europe's biggest-ever defense startup round.

DefenseMunich, GermanyFounded 2021Website ↗
Last verified Aug 12, 2026

Key Metrics

Valuation
$18B (Jul 2026)
As of Jul 2026Value Add Pulse research
Total funding
~$3.3B ($1.8B Series E + ~€1.36B prior rounds)
As of Aug 12, 2026EstimatedValue Add Pulse research

Company Snapshot

Helsing is a Defense company, based in Munich, Germany, founded 2021. Latest valuation $18B (Jul 2026) (As of Jul 2026, Value Add Pulse research). Total funding ~$3.3B ($1.8B Series E + ~€1.36B prior rounds) (As of Aug 12, 2026).

Recent changes

  1. Aug 12, 2026First reported total funding: ~$3.3B ($1.8B Series E + ~€1.36B prior rounds)Estimated Value Add Pulse enrichment
  2. Jul 13, 2026Raised $1.8B Series E at a $18 billion valuation CNBC
  3. Jul 13, 2026New investor: Thrive Capital CNBC
  4. Jul 13, 2026Helsing Raises $1.8B, Europe's Biggest Defense Round Pulse story
  5. Jul 2026First reported valuation: $18B (Jul 2026) Value Add Pulse enrichment
Earlier changes (2)
  1. Jun 17, 2025Raised €600M Series D at a €12B valuation Value Add Pulse enrichment
  2. Jul 11, 2024Raised €450M Series C at a ~€4.95B valuation Value Add Pulse enrichment

Funding History

3 events · sources dated per row
DateEventAmountValuationInvestorsSource
Jul 13, 2026Series E$1.8B$18 billion
outlined = lead
Pulse story
Jun 17, 2025Series D€600M€12B
Value Add Pulse research
Jul 11, 2024Series C€450M~€4.95B
Value Add Pulse research

Investors

Latest Pulse

  1. What Post-H1 Funding Data Already Shows for Q3Helsing, Gauntlet and Drug Farm's rounds this week are early evidence that H1 2026's concentration pattern -- record capital, AI capturing 86%, the top five managers taking 73.1% -- is continuing into Q3, not reversing.
  2. Europe's Defense-Tech Rounds Are Catching Up to the USHelsing's $1.8 billion round at an $18 billion valuation puts a concrete number on how fast European defense-tech financing is closing the gap with a US market that produced four separate billion-dollar-plus rounds this year alone.
  3. The AI Trade Just Split in Two: Buyers vs. SellersNvidia has shed roughly $1 trillion in value since May even as Meta's data center costs balloon past $50 billion and Helsing raises Europe's biggest-ever defense round -- capex is up, but the margin is shifting away from the chip seller.
  4. Helsing Raises $1.8B, Europe's Biggest Defense RoundMunich-based Helsing closed a $1.8 billion Series E at an $18 billion valuation, Europe's biggest-ever defense-tech round, with Goldman Sachs Alternatives, CPPIB and JPMorgan joining as new investors amid oversubscribed demand.

Coverage Timeline

newest first
  1. FUNDINGWhat Post-H1 Funding Data Already Shows for Q3
  2. FUNDINGEurope's Defense-Tech Rounds Are Catching Up to the US
  3. AIThe AI Trade Just Split in Two: Buyers vs. Sellers
  4. FUNDINGHelsing Raises $1.8B, Europe's Biggest Defense Round

All Coverage

FUNDING

What Post-H1 Funding Data Already Shows for Q3

FUNDING

Europe's Defense-Tech Rounds Are Catching Up to the US

AI

The AI Trade Just Split in Two: Buyers vs. Sellers

FUNDING

Helsing Raises $1.8B, Europe's Biggest Defense Round

Value Add Research

Related Companies

More on HelsingDefense Tech Tracker
Sources & methodologyshow
Where these figures come from
  • CNBCmajor outlet1 fact
  • Value Add Pulse researchValue Add VC data4 facts

Figures are labelled Reported (a source states it), Estimated, Derived (computed from other facts) or Rumored (in talks / unconfirmed). Rumors never replace a confirmed figure. Each figure keeps its own as-of date; history is preserved rather than overwritten.

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