American-Ukrainian defense technology startup Vermeer has closed its $10 million Series A round, led by Draper Associates with participation from AeroX Ventures, Boscolo Intervest, High Point Ventures, Rockaway Ventures, and the U.S. Air Force Techstars accelerator. The funding brings Vermeer’s total Series A capital to $10 million and will support expansion of its optical navigation platform for both defense and commercial use.
Headquartered in New York with forward operations in Kyiv, Vermeer develops a Visual Positioning System (VPS) that enables drones and other autonomous platforms to navigate without GPS. The system uses electro-optical or infrared cameras and AI processing on an Nvidia platform to match visual data to 2D or 3D maps, delivering accurate positioning even when GPS is jammed or spoofed.
“Building advanced technology in a war zone is not easy — but it’s the only way to make it real,” said Brian Streem, Vermeer CEO. “Our goal isn’t just to give drones mass — it’s to give them precision, intelligence, and purpose.”
Vermeer Funding Supports A Dual-Use Technology Built in Combat
Vermeer’s technology has already been deployed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) to maintain navigation capability under electronic attack. The VPS system is also in use by U.S. defense organizations and major contractors including Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.
“Dual-use tech catalyzes technical progress in both the defense and commercial sectors,” said Andy Tang, partner at Draper Associates. “One reason we backed Vermeer is the success they’ve achieved in helping Ukraine strengthen its drone fleet.”
Since joining the Air Force Techstars accelerator, Vermeer has received over $7 million in SBIR and AFWERX awards to develop its optical navigation system. The company has grown from 10 to 40 employees in the past year, eight of whom are based in Ukraine.
Context: Ukraine’s Expanding Drone Ecosystem
Ukraine has dramatically scaled its drone programs through new procurement plans and domestic development efforts. In March 2025, the Ministry of Defense approved the “Bird of Prey” drone for combat use and announced an ambitious plan to purchase 4.5 million FPV drones. By September, Ukraine had outlined its goal of becoming Europe’s drone manufacturing hub, easing export restrictions and pursuing partnerships across the EU.
In that environment, technologies like Vermeer’s are vital. Ukraine faces daily electronic-warfare challenges, and a GPS-independent navigation system enables UAVs to operate reliably in contested airspace. Vermeer’s presence in Kyiv allows for rapid iteration and direct feedback from frontline users — a rare advantage for a startup at this stage.
Outlook: Strengthening Autonomy Across Sectors
Vermeer’s Series A milestone highlights how Ukraine’s war-time innovation is reshaping global drone development. The company sits at the intersection of combat-tested technology and commercial scalability, combining U.S. venture support with operational insight from active conflict zones.
For Ukraine and its allies, Vermeer’s VPS enhances the resilience and precision of drone fleets. For the global drone industry, it represents a step toward greater autonomy in environments where GPS signals are unreliable — from urban air mobility to logistics and inspection operations.
As Ukraine evolves from a drone consumer to a co-developer of next-generation unmanned systems, Vermeer’s success underscores how collaboration between U.S. and Ukrainian innovators can accelerate the broader shift toward GPS-free autonomy.
About Vermeer
Vermeer is a New York-based technology company creating vision-based autonomy solutions for defense and commercial use. A graduate of the Air Force Accelerator powered by Techstars, Vermeer’s optical navigation system enables drones to operate precisely without GPS. Learn more at www.getvermeer.com.
Read more:
- Ukraine Eyes Role as Europe’s Drone Hub
- US and Ukraine Move Closer to Landmark Drone Deal
- What Kind of Drones is Ukraine Buying?
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
TWITTER:@spaldingbarker
Subscribe to DroneLife here.
Hello Miriam,
My name is Max Martens and I am a student at the University of North Dakota. I am currently doing a project on the ethics of Unmanned Aircraft Systems, and while doing research I came across multiple of your articles. I would love to hear the thoughts of a professional such as yourself on the ethical and moral side of Unmanned Aircraft Systems. If there is any chance that I could schedule a short interview with you, over zoom, phone, or other forms of contact, it would be a great addition to my research. Please contact me if you are interested or are available. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Max Martens