Startup · $37m raised · Defence and space · AI · Drones
AI-powered sensing systems for autonomous platforms
Melbourne, VIC
Every investor coverage indicates participated in a round Arkeus raised.
| Investor | Rounds | Invested |
|---|---|---|
| Beaten Zone Investment Manager Pty Ltd | Unnamed stage | - |
| Beaten Zone Venture Partners | Series A · Unnamed stage · Seed | - |
| Dyne Ventures | Series A | - |
| Folklore Ventures | Series A | - |
| Main Sequence Ventures | Series A · Unnamed stage · Seed | - |
| QIC Ventures | Series A | - |
| R+VC | Series A | - |
| Salus Ventures | Series A · Unnamed stage · Seed | - |
| Sovereign Industry Development Fund | Series A | - |
| Victorian Government | Grant | - |
Companies Arkeus acquired or merged with, per published coverage. Buying a company is not investing in one: nothing here counts in the deals column.
Stories naming Arkeus. Where several outlets covered the same round, they are bundled under whichever ran the fullest account.
Weekly digest: Firmus withdraws its planned listing, Square Peg reaches a billion-dollar close on two vehicles, MUFG clears regulators to buy Grow Inc, and Lubdub, RocketDNA, Energy Bay and Metal all raise.
Cut Through Venture's Q2 2026 report counts $1.7 billion announced across 64 venture rounds, carried by two mega-deals, with record median deal sizes, AI concentration, and deal counts at their slowest since before 2020.
Roundup of three trans-Tasman raises: Ordermentum landed $55m from Five V Capital, defence-tech firm Arkeus closed $25m, and music platform Lume gathered NZ$1.3m from well-known backers before its launch.
Also Startup Daily
The defence sensing company says its Series A backing from QIC Ventures and Folklore Ventures drew Wall Street Journal coverage of planned United States manufacturing, at a $72 million valuation.
Defence sensing startup Arkeus says its A$25 million Series A, which will fund manufacturing growth in Australia and the US, was covered by 7NEWS in a segment filmed at Insitu Pacific's facilities.
Arkeus' post points readers to Tectonic Defense's write-up of its A$25 million Series A, describing the hyperspectral sensing technology, its defence customers and platform partners, and coming production expansion in Queensland and America.
Arkeus has closed a A$25 million Series A with QIC Ventures leading, as early backer Beaten Zone Venture Partners returns alongside other existing backers; proceeds fund Queensland manufacturing and a doubled team.
Also Startup Daily·Defence Connect·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Forbes Australia·@AuManufacturing
Folklore Ventures announces it has joined Arkeus' A$25 million Series A with QIC Ventures, R+ VC and returning backers, describing the Melbourne defence-sensing startup's technology and growth plans.
Also Beaten Zone Venture Partners portfolio·Beaten Zone Venture Partners portfolio·arkeus.com·Forbes Australia·Cut Through Venture·SmartCompany·Dealroom
Main Sequence's blog post announces it led robotics software startup Breaker's pre-seed round, citing the founders' defence and robotics backgrounds and plans to expand the team and US presence.
Arkeus has raised an oversubscribed AU$5 million round joined by Beaten Zone Ventures, Main Sequence and Salus Ventures to scale its autonomous optics and AI surveillance technology for defence.
Also Beaten Zone Venture Partners portfolio·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Forbes Australia
Brisbane defence-tech VC Beaten Zone Venture Partners has reached a first close of over $10 million toward a $60 million target, with early investments in three startups and a new general manager.
Brisbane defence-tech fund manager BZV says Fund I has drawn over A$10 million in commitments, meeting its ESVCLP condition, with A$60 million targeted and a final close expected inside 18 months.
Also Startup Daily
Eight named Victorian manufacturers, including medical device maker PolyNovo, receive state government grants for new research facilities under a $15 million program, supporting work in health, energy, defence and advanced technology.
Also arkeus.com
Roundup of eight local raises totalling roughly $81.5 million: generative AI, sustainable packaging, VR medical training, optical radar, drinks, preventive health and wholesale retail software.
Also Ten13 portfolio·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Forbes Australia