Estonian-Ukrainian startup Farsight Vision, whose AI-driven intelligence tools are widely used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has successfully closed a €7.2 million Seed round. The round was led by public safety technology leader Axon Enterprise and SmartCap, alongside leading European defence investors.
Estonia is investing 2 million euros in the defence technology company Farsight Vision through the Smartcap National Defence Fund, enabling the company to develop its product in Estonia and expand into foreign markets.
“Our goal is to create a continuously updated world model that both people and robots can rely on to understand terrain, infrastructure, and change. Farsight Vision is becoming the spatial foundation for how humans and robots operate together in the real world.”
Volodymyr Nepiuk, CTO and Co-founder of Farsight Vision
According to Estonian Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo, the government is continuing its promise to implement the largest industrial growth plan in Estonia’s history. “The defence industry will become Estonia’s new strength, and investments made through the National Defence Fund in companies strengthening Estonia’s defence capabilities will contribute to this. The investment made in Farsight Vision will bring new skills and high-value-added defence technology development to Estonia, and create high-paying jobs for top specialists,” Keldo added.
Farsight Vision is developing technology that has grown out of practical need on the Ukrainian front, utilising drones and artificial intelligence to generate an up-to-date situational picture of the battlefield for planning rapid manoeuvres. The software is widely used in Ukraine and has great potential to strengthen NATO’s defence capabilities.
Farsight Vision secures seed round for AI‑driven geospatial and defence autonomy
“Our goal,” said Volodymyr Nepiuk, CTO and Co-founder of Farsight Vision, “is to create a continuously updated world model that both people and robots can rely on to understand terrain, infrastructure, and change. Farsight Vision is becoming the spatial foundation for how humans and robots operate together in the real world”.
The company plans to expand both its sales and product development teams in Estonia to grow in export markets. Farsight Vision sees Estonia as a key hub for developing high technology, defence expertise and international cooperation. The team has already been joined by former Estonian Air Force Commander, Brigadier General Jaak Tarien.
According to Viktoriia Yaremchuk, CEO and co-founder of Farsight Vision, Estonia is a strategic growth environment for the company. “There is strong technology talent, a flexible and forward-looking innovation environment, and close ties to the European Union and NATO structures. Estonia’s startup ecosystem and clear regulatory environment support rapid growth, and proximity to Ukraine helps link our development to real needs,” said Yaremchuk.
Smartcap: Farsight Vision strengthens Estonia’s innovation ecosystem
The Seed financing will accelerate development of Farsight Vision’s AI-driven geospatial awareness and response system, delivering continuously updated 3D contextual awareness and AI-powered scenario planning. By fusing real-time operational data from the field and unmanned platforms, the system provides a valuable alternative to static satellite-derived intelligence layers and serves as the integration layer (“glue”) for planning and executing collaborative UAV/UGV missions for defenders in Ukraine and for international defence partners.
“Their technology enables the use of autonomous systems from threat identification to elimination.”
Sille Pettai, CEO of SmartCap
The funds will be used to automate defence robotic systems for logistics, navigation, and weapon control. This automation will be validated through integrations with UAV/UGV manufacturers and BMSs to establish core capabilities for robotic operations. Additionally, the funding aims to accelerate the effective use and understanding of electronic warfare for battlefield and critical infrastructure protection, while building global partnerships to support doctrinal changes in the defence framework.
“Farsight Vision is building decision-making systems in one of the most demanding environments in the world,” said Rick Smith, Founder and CEO of Axon. “When technology is shaped by real operational use, it evolves faster and with more clarity. We’re excited to support a team whose work in Ukraine is generating insights that can improve how people and autonomous systems operate together globally.”
According to SmartCap CEO Sille Pettai, Farsight Vision is an example of a company where technology born of a real need is becoming an international solution for both civilian and military use. “Their technology enables the use of autonomous systems from threat identification to elimination. For Estonia, this means new technological skills and talent in the defence sector and a stronger connection between our defence and technology ecosystem,” said Pettai.
GOOD TO KNOW
- Founded in 2023, Estonian-Ukrainian company Farsight Vision was created to meet real operational needs in Ukraine.
- Its initial frontline mapping tools have evolved into a geospatial intelligence platform that supports unmanned systems and battle robotics with up-to-date terrain and situational awareness.
- These capabilities now extend to defence, security, disaster response, and critical infrastructure beyond Ukraine.
- The company is growing in Estonia, with teams expanding across both countries. This cross-border development strengthens ties between Ukraine and Estonia, combining operational experience with advanced technology and a shared understanding of modern security challenges.
- Farsight Vision has previously received support from the Defence Round of the Applied Research Program (RUP) with Crystalspace for a total of 1.5 million euros, and was also one of 14 companies that won 193,000 euros from the Defence Industry Development Projects Round of the Ministry of Defence last year. The support helped accelerate the development of geolocation and situational awareness solutions in GPS-free and disturbed environments.
- Over the past months, the company has expanded rapidly — forming partnerships across several NATO countries in Europe and securing its first commercial deal in Asia.
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