Shield AI Secures $240M Funding for Hivemind Enterprise, Achieves $5.3B Valuation as Second-Highest Defense Tech Startup Behind Anduril Industries

Defense technology startup Shield AI has secured $240 million in funding, achieving a valuation of $5.3 billion. This funding round positions Shield AI as the second-highest valued defense tech startup, trailing only Anduril Industries. The investment aims to scale Shield AI's Hivemind Enterprise, an AI-powered autonomy developer platform. The funding comes amid a broader trend in the venture capital landscape, where defense technology and cybersecurity have emerged as leading sectors, despite a slowdown in overall startup investment. In February, global venture funding totaled $19 billion, marking one of the slowest months for startup investment in the past year, according to Crunchbase data.