Defense Tech Startup Raises $34M from a16z
Chariot Defense has secured a $34 million Series A round led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). The company will use the funds to scale its AI-powered battlefield command systems, reaffirming investor interest in dual-use AI technologies with both civilian and defense applications.
- This latest funding round brings Chariot Defense's total capital raised to $41 million. Other investors in this Series A round included DCVC, LMNT, Marlinspike, Overmatch, Shield Capital, Ensemble, and Trenches Capital, with existing investors General Catalyst and XYZ also participating. - The company, founded in 2024 and led by CEO Adam Warmoth, emerged from stealth in July 2025. Warmoth's background includes roles at Archer, Anduril, and Uber Elevate. - Chariot Defense focuses on creating software-defined power systems for the battlefield to manage electricity for drones, sensors, and directed energy weapons. Their main product is a hybrid power system called Amphora. - The company has demonstrated rapid progress, taking equipment to force-on-force field exercises within six months of its seed round and generating revenue within twelve months. - Chariot has already secured sales and contracts with the U.S. Army and DIU Project GI. - The lead investor, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), has a dedicated "American Dynamism" fund to support companies in sectors like defense and manufacturing that serve the national interest. - The investment in Chariot aligns with a broader trend of increased venture capital funding in defense technology, with a16z being one of the most active firms in the sector.
