Norwegian counter-drone startup Stendr, led by Aleksander Leonard Larsen, co-founder of blockchain gaming unicorn Sky Mavis, secured a $5.4 million oversubscribed pre-seed round from investors including RainFall, ACME, and SkyFall, alongside European defence and tech investors. Stendr, based in Oslo, is developing AI-driven systems to track drones, supported by RainFall, ACME, SkyFall, Sisyphus, Antler, StartupLab, Off Piste, and Andøya Ventures, plus global tech investors. The startup focuses on an integrated stack of hardware, software, and AI for drone defence.
Aleksander Leonard Larsen previously worked as COO of Sky Mavis, known for Axie Infinity, which became a blockchain gaming unicorn valued at $3 billion after a $150 million Series B. In March 2022, Axie Infinity suffered a $620 million cryptocurrency hack by North Korea’s Lazarus Group, exploiting the Ronin Network. Sky Mavis reimbursed users and raised $150 million from Binance, teaching Larsen the importance of security and resilience.
Stendr initially targets AI-driven counter-drone technology with multi-sensor systems to detect and track low-cost drones. Larsen stresses the need for European sovereignty, referencing drones in conflict zones like Ukraine. Stendr’s backer Andøya Ventures is linked to Norway’s Andøya Space Centre, amid Europe’s move toward indigenous defence capabilities. The global counter-drone market, valued at $6.6 billion in 2025, could reach $20.3 billion by 2030. The EU’s European Defence Industry Programme allocates €30 million for counter-drone systems. Stendr will use its pre-seed funding to develop AI multi-sensor tech, expand engineering and hardware capabilities, and support defence deployment.