Key takeaways
- SE3 has emerged from stealth with €5.5 million in seed funding, led by Lakestar
- The startup builds AI that helps drones and autonomous systems understand and navigate the physical world.
- Backing comes from a host of European VCs, supported by contracts with the Bundeswehr
Munich-based SE3 Labs emerged from stealth in June with €5.5 million in seed funding to develop spatial artificial intelligence for autonomous systems, with the company already working with the German armed forces.
The round was led by Lakestar, with backing from Seedcamp, EWOR, the Sequoia Scout Fund, UnternehmerTUM Funding for Innovators, SDAC Ventures, Magnetic Capital, TwinTrack Ventures and Plug and Play, alongside strategic angel investors. The company said the funding will support development and deployment of its spatial AI platform for defence and industrial applications.
SE3’s technology combines computer vision, artificial intelligence and real-time mapping to give autonomous systems a three-dimensional understanding of their surroundings and support navigation in GPS-denied environments. It can also create continuously updated 3D maps that can be shared across multiple autonomous platforms.
The system processes images, video and map data to identify terrain, elevation and objects and place them within a 3D representation of the environment. The technology is aimed at defence and security, as well as applications including smart infrastructure, construction and industrial operations.
SE3 was founded by CEO Lukas Köstler, Chief Technology Officer Simon Klenk and Chief Science Officer Daniel Cremers.
SE3 says its technology is already being used by the German armed forces and that it has participated in military exercises across Europe. HENSOLDT, the German radar and sensors maker, has signed an MoU with SE3 to explore integration of the company’s software into one of its platforms. Autonomous drone systems specialist Auterion is also looking at ways to embed the technology.
