Tycho.AI, a leading unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology company specializing in resilient navigation and AI systems for autonomous vehicles, has raised $10 million in Series A funding to accelerate product development and scale government deployments. The funding round was led by FirstMark, with participation from existing investor Pillar VC.
Founded by autonomy and defense technology experts, Tycho.AI is developing edge-executable AI and custom compute hardware that enable unmanned systems to operate effectively in GPS-denied and communication-contested environments—conditions increasingly common across both defense and commercial applications. The company’s technology combines visual navigation, sensor fusion, obstacle detection and avoidance, and machine learning algorithms with custom FPGA and ASIC chipsets to deliver fast, precise, and reliable autonomy without dependence on GPS or persistent connectivity.
Tycho.AI’s modular, low-SWaP (size, weight, and power) architecture distinguishes it from other AI-driven autonomy systems that rely on large-scale models and continuous cloud connectivity. This design allows Tycho.AI’s software to run directly on the edge—supporting smaller drones and ground vehicles—while maintaining robust performance even in degraded or denied environments.
The new capital will be used to expand Tycho.AI’s engineering and capture teams, invest in flight testing and system integration, and enhance the company’s edge-AI autonomy stack for both military and commercial applications, including agriculture and logistics. The company’s focus on field-ready performance has made it a key player in the Pentagon’s efforts to advance next-generation, mission-resilient autonomy.
In addition to the funding announcement, Tycho.AI has appointed General (Ret.) Rich Clarke, former Commanding General of U.S. Special Operations Command, to its Board of Directors. Clarke’s extensive experience in operational leadership and mission planning brings critical insight into the deployment of autonomous systems in real-world defense operations.
The appointment follows a series of significant government contracts, as Tycho.AI has secured more than $5 million in SBIR awards from U.S. defense agencies, including a Direct to Phase II with AFWERX, a Phase II award from the Strategic Capabilities Office, and a TACFI with the Air Force Research Laboratory. These awards underscore growing interest in Tycho.AI’s approach to building autonomy that performs reliably in the most challenging conditions.
KEY QUOTES:
“Tycho.AI is not simply building autonomy technology, we are laying the foundation for how humans and machines will interoperate in the real world. Our focus is on solving the hardest problem in autonomy: creating systems that remain reliable in the most complex and unpredictable environments, from denied battlefields to dense cities. We are assembling the people, the science, and the partnerships to make this vision real.”
Thom Kenney, CEO of Tycho.AI
“The challenge of autonomy has never been about making systems work in perfect conditions; it has always been about making them work when conditions are at their worst. What excites me about Tycho.AI is the relentless focus on solving that problem. With the help of advanced machine learning, the team is building autonomy that will not just operate, but excel, in challenging places where other systems fail. This is the breakthrough that turns autonomy from fragile to truly mission-ready.”
Professor Sertac Karaman, Founder and Executive Chair, Tycho.AI
“Tycho.AI brings together extraordinary technical talent and deep operational experience. Autonomy that can think and act reliably at high speed in complex, unpredictable environments is one of the hardest challenges in technology today. Tycho is solving it now, and in doing so, is defining the future of how humans and machines operate together across every domain.”
Amish Jani, Founder and Partner, FirstMark
“In my experience, autonomy often falls short in the very environments we need it most. Tycho is fixing that, focusing not on academic AI, but on edge-executable autonomy for the toughest missions.”
General (Ret.) Rich Clarke, Member, Tycho.AI Board of Directors
