The investment round was led by prominent funds and investors, including Naval Ravikant, Founders, Inc., UA1 VC, and several other venture firms. The funding was announced by the founder on his LinkedIn page.
Thermopylae focuses on developing technologies capable of countering kamikaze drones and glide bombs — threats that are becoming increasingly common on modern battlefields.
The startup’s flagship product is a sophisticated quadcopter interceptor that can be launched directly from a 120 mm mortar tube. The drone accelerates to 350 km/h, enabling it to pursue and engage airborne targets. It is equipped with an electric motor and a thermal-imaging targeting system, can stay in the air for up to 20 minutes, and is expected to be priced below $10,000 per unit, making it significantly more cost-effective than most alternatives.
A key feature of the system is its reusability: if the drone does not strike its target, it can be recovered, repaired, and deployed again — unlike most single-use interceptors.
Yehor Balytskyi left Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. He worked in Europe on security and cryptography projects before moving to the United States. Thermopylae emerged after a series of hackathons and prototype demonstrations that impressed both U.S. military representatives and investors.
