Hidden Level – a leader in passive radar and radio frequency sensing technology for detecting and precisely locating drones and other threats – announced $65 million in Series C funding led by DFJ Growth with participation from Booz Allen Ventures, Revolution Growth, Costanoa Ventures, Washington Harbour Partners, Veteran Ventures, Founders Circle Capital, and others. This funding comes on the heels of the company’s $35 million Series B – which closed only six months earlier. This brings the company’s funding over the last year to $100 million, solidifying its position as a technology player in the rapidly evolving national security and critical infrastructure landscape.
The rapid spreading of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) has introduced significant challenges to national security and the protection of critical infrastructure for the U.S. and its allies. Drones represent a major threat in both military and civilian environments. As drones become increasingly sophisticated, with smaller sizes, enhanced stealth capabilities, and the ability to operate in swarms, traditional radar systems often struggle to provide reliable detection and tracking. This gap in airspace situational awareness validates the urgent need for advanced sensing solutions to identify and locate drone threats in real-time, even in complex and congested electromagnetic environments, to protect public safety and critical infrastructure.
Hidden Level essentially detects and tracks various aerial activity like drones — whether emitting signals, operating covertly as dark drones, or posing as imitations — along with aircraft, balloons, and other objects within the airspace. The company’s advanced technology also pinpoints the location of drone operators, providing a comprehensive and actionable view of aerial activity. Hidden Level also achieves this while maintaining full compliance with Title 18 regulations, safeguarding privacy and avoiding the need for changes to existing legislation.
Hidden Level’s technology is increasingly recognized for its necessity in high-security scenarios. The company is on contract this year to support technology deployments for the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. Central Command, U.S. Northern Command, and other federal, state, and local agencies, to address drone threats to U.S. national security, critical infrastructure, and military bases. The company’s technology has been deployed to monitor major events like the recent presidential inauguration, during which airspace security was crucial.
Hidden Level’s approach is powered by its passive radar and RF direction-finding technology – which remains undetectable to bad actors, ensuring strategic sensor placement and uninterrupted operations. By utilizing its vertically integrated design, manufacturing, and testing capabilities, the company delivers sensors optimized for cost, mobility, performance, and spectrum depth, meeting the diverse needs of its customers. Hidden Level’s scalable solutions—whether delivered as hardware or data-as-a-service — offer unmatched flexibility and utility in monitoring low and high-altitude airspace.
The new funding will scale the business by expanding manufacturing, hiring across the board, and growing internationally after successful deployments with over a dozen customers, including NASA, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Department of Defense. The company will also meet the demands of new clients by expanding manufacturing and hiring.
KEY QUOTES:
“Hidden Level is addressing a critical gap in our defense capabilities with advanced technologies that identify and track the proliferating UAS threats, while remaining virtually undetectable. This capability is changing the game on the battlefield, providing an electronic surveillance shield for our forces and assets in harm’s way.”
– Randy Glein from DFJ Growth
“Critical infrastructure is the backbone of our nation’s security. Today’s evolving threats demand comprehensive airspace monitoring, from low-altitude drones to high-altitude aircraft and everything in between. With this new funding, we are poised to expand our impact, enhancing defense capabilities and supporting public safety, critical infrastructure, and emerging commercial needs.”
– Jeff Cole, co-founder and CEO of Hidden Level
