SkySafe Raises $11.5 Mill for Counter-UAS Technology; Secures DoD Contract

SkySafe, a San Diego based startup, has received $11.5 in Series A funding round that was led by Andreessen Horowitz. The round comes with a seat on the board for Andreessen general partner Lars Dalgaard. In addition, SkySafe has received a $1.5 million contract with the Department of Defense, providing mobile counter-UAS systems to Naval Special Warfare units for protection from drone threats.

 

In a statement on the company’s web site CEO Grant Jordan wrote:

The use of weaponized drones by terrorist organizations has risen dramatically, but there is a lack of effective systems in place for soldiers to deploy in the field. At SkySafe, we are committed to addressing this threat and have a plan in place to do so – we are rolling out a series of demonstrations, tests, and exercises for DoD customers over the next year and plan to have systems in the field in 2018. This wouldn’t be possible without the help of our invaluable partner, the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx), whose dedication to accelerating commercial innovation for national defense has connected us with organizations like the Naval Special Warfare Command; organizations similarly devoted to getting solutions out to the warfighter quickly.

In addition, we’re also continuing our long-term mission to provide enforcement tools that help to enable and grow the commercial drone industry. We believe in the potential for drones to improve quality of live and we’re committed to protecting critical airspaces from malicious or reckless operators. This includes commercial customers like stadiums, airports, and prisons. As there is still regulatory uncertainty regarding who has the authority to take down drones that are endangering people in critical airspace, we are working closely with the FAA and other players in the industry to help define those regulations and understand what’s needed to build the infrastructure to support commercial drones in the future.