Copenhagen-based Sapient Perception has raised €2M in a pre-seed funding round to develop advanced sensor systems for unmanned aerial vehicles used in defense, security, and emergency response. The round was co-led by investment firms Balnord and FORWARD.one, and the capital will go toward accelerating the startup’s software-defined cameras and AI framework, expanding its engineering team, and supporting initial customer deployments across multiple industries.
Sapient Perception was founded by Anthony Garetto, Lau Norgaard, and Michael Messerschmidt and is focused on building physical AI sensor systems for drones that enable what the company calls large-area perception. The Danish startup’s core offering is a 10K sensor system that can capture up to 100 times more area than conventional sensors while maintaining the same detailed resolution in a single frame. With the founding team bringing more than 45 years of combined experience in sensor architecture, imaging technology, and defense markets, the company is positioned to address a growing need for more capable aerial intelligence tools.
How Sapient Perception Solves the UAV Visibility Gap
Modern drones collect more images and data than ever before, but bandwidth limitations create a constant tradeoff between how much area a sensor covers and how much detail it captures. Operators are forced to constantly switch views to compensate, which limits the effectiveness of UAV missions in fast-moving situations. Sapient Perception addresses this challenge by combining its high-resolution 10K sensors with a novel edge processing pipeline that delivers actionable insights onboard in real time. The system is compatible with whatever AI models operators prefer, giving users flexibility in how they process and interpret incoming data.
By running computations at the edge rather than relying on distant servers, the system overcomes problems tied to bandwidth, latency, and human cognitive overload. The result is autonomous operational capabilities that were previously out of reach in time-sensitive environments. Companies developing advanced drone sensors are increasingly focused on moving processing power closer to the aircraft itself, and Sapient Perception’s approach represents a significant step in that direction.
“In mission-critical situations, the ability to make fast, informed decisions determines outcomes. Our perception layer enables persistent situational awareness through a far wider lens, while delivering the important details to operators in real time. Having this whole picture means decisive action can be taken faster and with a higher level of confidence.” Anthony Garetto, CEO and Co-Founder of Sapient Perception
Frontline Deployments in Ukraine and Beyond
Sapient Perception is already collaborating with Dropla Tech to integrate its large-area perception sensors into UAVs designed to fly low and ahead of military convoys. The imaging data will feed into Dropla Tech’s Blue Eyes platform, which the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence is currently using to process real-time drone video. The platform detects ambush drones and landmines along supply routes near Ukraine’s front lines, making Sapient Perception’s wider coverage sensors a meaningful operational upgrade for troops on the ground.
The company is also partnering with organizations that deploy sensors on high-altitude platforms, including stratospheric systems designed for wide-area intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. According to Sapient Perception, its perception layer is flexible enough to serve customers, system integrators, and industrial partners across both Europe and North America. The startup’s sensor stack is NDAA compliant and ITAR-free, built on a fully trusted and allied supply chain.
Investors Back Edge AI for Defense Drones
The investment from Balnord and FORWARD.one reflects growing demand for edge-based intelligence across defense and security domains. As unmanned systems become more central to modern military strategy, the ability to process large amounts of sensor data in real time at the point of collection is becoming a key differentiator for companies in the space.
“Modern defense and security operations are not taking advantage of the most advanced sensors and the vast data they generate. Sapient Perception addresses this challenge with a highly differentiated edge AI approach that we believe will become foundational to next-generation systems.” Jarek Pilarczyk, Partner at Balnord
“In the environments Sapient Perception serves, every second matters. Their technology turns high-quality sensor data into real-time insights at the edge, enabling 100× greater coverage than today’s systems. It’s a clear step change — built by a team that knows how to move fast and deliver.” Cailin Greiner, Investment Manager at FORWARD.one
With the pre-seed round now closed, Sapient Perception plans to expand both its engineering capacity and its customer base as it moves toward full-scale deployment of its 10K sensor platform. The company’s combination of high-resolution imaging, onboard AI processing, and compliance with allied supply chain standards positions it to play a growing role in the next generation of drone-based situational awareness tools used by defense and security operators worldwide.
