Trousdale Ventures and Scout Ventures have co-led a $11 million investment round in HavocAI, a developer of low-cost, collaborative, autonomous surface vessels. And HavocAI’s fleet of uncrewed boats represents a game-changing solution, with capabilities delivered at incredibly low costs in an era where threats to global shipping and security intensify daily.
HavocAI’s vessels are the first line of defense against increasingly sophisticated maritime threats, like those posed to commercial shipping in the Red Sea. These transformative boats are known as the ultimate maritime security system—an advanced coordinated fleet optionally armed with explosive and electronic warfare warheads and with the proven capability to launch both subsurface and airborne drones. Plus, electronic warheads disable enemy drones, allowing them to be captured or destroyed with surgical precision.
The future of naval dominance is already unfolding. HavocAI demonstrated its visionary technology at the US Navy’s Silent Swarm exercise, where one sailor successfully controlled numerous autonomous vessels in a coordinated attack-and-defend scenario. Havoc’s solutions do not aim to replace sailors or existing ships but to create an entirely new kind of naval warfare where human operators can unleash fleets of autonomous assets, responding to threats in real time at a scale never before possible.
HavocAI’s naval drones can neutralize enemy combatants and surface threats, operate in denied-communication zones, and work with air and sub-surface autonomous systems, creating a holistic defense web.
As rebel groups threaten the safety of shipping lanes and the specter of near-peer conflicts looms large, the demand for unmanned maritime solutions has never been more urgent. HavocAI’s ability to launch aerial vehicles equipped with electronic warfare warheads that neutralize enemy drones gives it a unique edge in the fight to protect global commerce.
With this funding round, HavocAI is positioned to ramp up production and deploy its game-changing fleet across global waters. And Trousdale Ventures and Scout Ventures are backing HavocAI’s ability to solve today’s maritime challenges and anticipate the demands of future conflicts.
KEY QUOTES:
“HavocAI is at the forefront of what will define the next generation of warfare—massive, low-cost autonomous fleets that can be deployed rapidly and operated with minimal manpower. The company’s technology has the potential to not only protect vital shipping lanes but also to reshape how global navies defend themselves in an increasingly volatile world.”
“HavocAI’s fleet is adaptable, resilient, and can be deployed on a scale that most operators could only dream of. This investment is just the beginning. We’re backing a future where one sailor can safely command an entire fleet of autonomous vessels. By efficiently deploying technology, we can create the most effective deterrent to the asymmetric threats we face today, thereby ensuring regional stability.”
-Michael Potiker, Partner at Trousdale Ventures
“At HavocAI, we’re not just building boats—we’re building an autonomous fleet that can outthink, outmaneuver, and outlast any adversary while empowering individual sailors to defend against a wide array of threats. Our goal is simple: to make the oceans a no-go zone for any hostile entity.”
-Paul Lwin, CEO of HavocAI
“Investing in dual-use frontier tech like HavocAI allows us to make a tangible difference. They are solving today’s toughest defense challenges while creating opportunities for commercial expansion—exactly the kind of innovation that transforms industries.”
-Brad Harrison, Founder, Scout VC
