XTEND’s Drone Hive is an instance of its autonomous protection expertise. Supply: XTEND
XTEND Actuality Inc. right now introduced that Aliya Capital Companions and Protego Ventures have co-led a strategic $30 million extension to its $70 million Collection B funding spherical. The developer of tactical autonomous robots stated it plans to make use of the financing to scale up U.S. and world manufacturing, combine real-time synthetic intelligence capabilities throughout its platforms, and increase deployments with U.S. and allied protection forces.
“The profitable completion of our Collection B financing highlights the surging demand for mission-critical autonomous programs from allied protection and public security companies,” acknowledged Aviv Shapira, CEO of XTEND. “The backing from Aliya and Protego isn’t nearly recent capital—it’s a robust vote of confidence.”
Based as a gaming firm, XTEND has developed robots and autonomous programs that use AI and human steering to function exactly and safely in advanced and dangerous environments. The Tel Aviv, Israel-based firm claimed that its patented XOS working system can improve the operator’s skills, lowering the necessity for direct bodily confrontation and minimizing casualties and accidents.
XTEND stated customers together with the U.S. Division of Protection, Singapore, Europe, the U.Ok., and the Israel Protection Pressure have deployed 1000’s of drones, robotic canine, and marine programs worldwide.
XTEND develops ‘human-supervised autonomy’
“Our XOS working system relies on ‘human-supervised autonomy,’ which empowers robots to deal with advanced duties autonomously –coming into buildings, scanning flooring, and even pursuing suspects,” Shapira advised The Robotic Report. “Nonetheless, crucially, it permits the ‘frequent sense’ choices — like judging conditions or adapting to unexpected circumstances — to stay within the palms of human supervisors.”
XTEND’s analysis and improvement workforce is regularly including new AI expertise to the system to permit robots to deal with a rising portion of missions and duties. Shapira stated the aim is to unlock human supervisors to handle extra missions and to distance individuals from harmful conditions.
“For instance, a latest replace to XOS provides a single person the power to handle a workforce of robots performing subtasks autonomously, equivalent to patrolling indoor environments and searching for threats,” he famous. “This eliminates the necessity for ‘steady handbook operation,’ that means human supervisors not have to continuously management every robotic’s motion. This can be a game-changer for non-robotics specialists like troopers, cops, constructing engineers, and firefighters.”
As well as, XTEND’s concentrate on human-machine collaboration permits supervisors to handle dozens of robots concurrently and permits robots to study from these experiences, Shapira stated. XOS additionally reduces coaching necessities, he defined.
“With XOS, even professionals with out in depth robotics coaching can now oversee advanced missions with higher ease,” asserted Shapira. “The truth is, XOS reduces drone operation coaching time by 99%, permitting pilots with no prior expertise to realize mastery in as little as 5 minutes.”
“Our system automates subtasks whereas protecting the supervisor in management,” he added. “Think about a firefighter directing a workforce of robots to discover a burning constructing, or a police officer coordinating drones to look a big space for a suspect. XOS empowers these professionals to leverage robotic help with out changing into robotics consultants themselves.”
Aliya CEO joins XTEND board
Aliya Capital Companions and Protego Ventures joined taking part buyers, together with Len Blavatnik’s Claltech, Union-Tech Ventures, and Chartered Group. As a part of this transaction, Ross Kestlin, founding associate and CEO of Aliya Capital Companions, has joined XTEND’s board of administrators.
“XTEND’s mission — to ship cutting-edge drone and robotics programs for high-risk, mission-critical environments — aligns immediately with our imaginative and prescient of supporting applied sciences that defend and improve life,” stated Kestin. “We’re honored to again Aviv and his world-class workforce and assist speed up the affect of their expertise throughout protection, safety, and emergency response sectors.”
Aliya Capital Companions has experience throughout protection tech, AI, autonomy, and nationwide safety. The Miami-based funding agency stated it backs firms “on the intersection of superior expertise and world security.”
“Ross’s expertise and strategic perspective are invaluable in navigating this pivotal development section,” stated Shapira. “Moreover, opening our Tampa headquarters is a serious step ahead as we proceed to construct cutting-edge programs that defend lives worldwide.”
XTEND opens new U.S. headquarters
With this Collection B funding, XTEND plans to scale up U.S. and world manufacturing. The firm additionally plans to supply its programs for humanitarian and emergency response efforts.
The announcement follows the July 1 grand opening of XTEND’s new U.S. headquarters and superior drone manufacturing facility in Tampa, Fla. The occasion introduced collectively authorities, navy, and business leaders. The corporate is hiring, stated Shapira.
“This milestone represents the conclusion of XTEND’s imaginative and prescient to convey our groundbreaking applied sciences nearer to the U.S. protection ecosystem,” Dr. Peter Kash, chairman of the board of XTEND. “With this facility, we’re laying the muse for sustained development, high-tech job creation, and significant contributions to America’s safety and industrial capabilities.”
“The grand opening of XTEND’s Tampa facility represents greater than a bodily enlargement—it marks a brand new section of operational scale, U.S. engagement, and world relevance,” stated Lee Moser, co-founder and basic associate of Protego Ventures.
Protego Ventures is an Israel-based protection enterprise capital fund investing in breakthrough applied sciences to deal with right now’s most pressing protection and safety challenges, together with drones, AI and machine studying, sensors, and aerial defenses.
XTEND offers autonomous and human guided programs to the U.S. and its allies. Supply: XTEND
Buyers see tech potential
“When investing in firms, you sometimes meet the founders, the administration workforce, the expertise—and naturally, dive into the digital knowledge room,” recalled Avi Fischer, chairman of Clal Industries and Claltech. “However with XTEND, we did one thing way more vital.’
“On our very first go to, we walked right into a room with over 50 finish customers, all being skilled on the system,” he stated. “What satisfied us to take a position wasn’t simply the tech — it was their suggestions. They spoke about how the system has saved lives, how AI-driven coaching lower studying time by 99%, and the way this expertise is already altering the battlefield. That’s once we knew we needed to be a part of this.”
XTEND is transitioning from a platforms-based mannequin to a software-oriented, robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) strategy, the place programs will be upgraded with extra superior capabilities, stated Shapira.
