STARK
Develops and manufactures the Virtus long-range loitering munition and related strike drone systems for European armed forces.
US soldiers launch a Switchblade 600 loitering munition, Grafenwoehr. Photo: U.S. Army TSAE by Sgt. Cody Nelson, Public domain (PD-USGov-Military-Army).
Round details
Series C, €500M at ~€3.2-3.5B valuation, 23 Jun 2026.
Why it matters
NIF-backed; ~€269M Bundeswehr loitering munition order (Feb 2026); Virtus reportedly failed strike attempts in Oct 2025 UK/German trials.
Key figures confirmed by multiple sourcesLast checked 21 October 2026
STARK: key questions
What does STARK do?
Develops and manufactures the Virtus long-range loitering munition and related strike drone systems for European armed forces.
Where is STARK based?
STARK is headquartered in Berlin, Germany. It was founded in 2024.
How much funding has STARK raised?
Total funding is ~€640-660M (Bloomberg: >€660M), based on announced and reported rounds. Latest round: Series C, €500M at ~€3.2-3.5B valuation, 23 Jun 2026.
Who are STARK's investors?
Notable investors include Sequoia Capital, Founders Fund, NATO Innovation Fund.
Sources
- thenextweb.com/news/stark-defence-500-million-sequoia-founders-fund-3-5-billion-valuation
- tectonicdefense.com/stark-raises-e500m-at-e3-5b-valuation/
Figures come from company announcements and press reports. Spot an error? Send a correction. Nothing here is investment advice.
STARK in the news
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Quantum Systems: Valuation, Funding and IPO Plans of Europe's Drone Champion
The German reconnaissance drone maker more than doubled its valuation to about $8 billion in July 2026. Here is every round, its revenue, Ukraine production and what is known about a listing.
STARK Defence: Funding, Valuation and the Virtus Loitering Munition
The Berlin loitering munition maker raised €500 million in June 2026. Sources disagree on its valuation, and its first Bundeswehr order followed reported trial failures. Here is what is verified.
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