Defense tech startup Scout AI closed a Series A funding round with $100 million to develop its foundation model for autonomous military systems.
Founded in 2024 and based in Sunnyvale, Scout AI develops AI defense systems that it says focus on software that translates individual user input into coordinated, autonomous action across robotic fleets.
On its site, the company says its tech can be used to turn robots from passive systems into “autonomous agents.”
The latest funding round will be used to expand development of Fury, its flagship model designed for tactical deployment across air, land, sea and space operations.
The vendor framed the fund raise as furthering the U.S.’s dominance in the robotics industry, with Scout CEO Colby Adcock saying in a statement that the round is a signal to “every patriot in Silicon Valley.”
"The most important frontier in AI is the physical world, and it should be pursued in service to the men and women who defend this country,” Adcock said in a release. “Some AI companies are stepping back from defense. We're stepping up, and we're bringing on the best engineers in the world for the mission.”
The company describes itself as a specialist AI lab focused on military autonomy rather than a defense manufacturer, with an emphasis on developing the reasoning layer for large-scale unmanned systems.
Since its founding, the vendor has secured $11 million in contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense, launched its Ox autonomous vehicle orchestrator, and demonstrated a strike mission executed by AI agents running autonomous off-road vehicles and drones.
"The funding round reflects continued investor appetite for defense-focused AI, as autonomous and “uncrewed” systems become an increasingly significant area of military technology development.
The Trump administration has repeatedly pushed for the use of AI and robotics to further American dominance across industries, including defense. In its AI Action Plan, released last July, the White House notably called for removing regulatory barriers to AI innovation and opposed states with “burdensome” AI regulations.
More recently, in January the defense department released its 2026 Artificial Intelligence Strategy, aligning itself with the White House’s AI agenda. The document positions the military as an “AI-first” force and emphasizes rapid adoption of AI and digital tools to enhance capabilities.
The round was co-led by Align Ventures and Draper Associates. Also participating were Decisive Point, Booz Allen Ventures, BVVC, Neman Ventures, Evolution VC Partners, Heraclitus Capital Management, Sigmas Group, Disruptive Founders Fund and Vaughn Capital Partners.
