XTEND adds $30M to Series B as autonomous drone demand surges
Fresh capital fuels Florida expansion amid wartime pivot to defense.
XTEND, a developer of tactical autonomous robotics systems, has secured a $30 million extension to its $70 million Series B funding round launched last year. The investment was co-led by Miami-based Aliya Capital Partners and Protego Ventures, with participation from Len Blavatnik’s Claltech, Union-Tech Ventures, and Chartered Group. Other investors include Tel Aviv University’s TAU Ventures. The company recently announced the opening of its new headquarters and the establishment of a manufacturing facility in Tampa, Florida. As part of the investment, Ross Kestin, founding partner and CEO of Aliya Capital Partners, has joined XTEND’s board of directors.
A significant part of the company’s growth and recent fundraising success is attributed to its activities during the Swords of Iron war, when XTEND made a major organizational shift and focused all of its operations on the defense sector. CEO Aviv Shapira told Calcalist that the company fully mobilized to supply drones of various types to support military operations.
XTEND’s advanced robotics systems are actively deployed by the US Department of Defense, various European countries, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). CEO Aviv Shapira stated: “The successful completion of our Series B financing highlights the surging demand for mission-critical autonomous systems from allied defense and public safety agencies. The investment will fuel accelerated R&D, scale manufacturing, and global deployment expansion.”
XTEND was founded in 2018 by brothers Aviv Shapira (CEO) and Matteo Shapira (CXO), along with Rubi Liani (CTO) and Adir Tubi (COO). The company employs 120 people, with more than half based in Israel and the remainder in the U.S. and Singapore. The new funding will be used to advance the development and supply of XTEND’s tactical drones for the American market and other allied countries, supporting both operational and humanitarian missions. The company also plans to recruit additional personnel for its Israeli development teams to expand its technological capabilities.
