Smack Technologies, a defense-technology startup, has raised $61 million in a Series B funding round to accelerate production of its flagship product, Omega, and develop wearable AI hardware, Alpha. The funding round comes after the Defense Department declared Anthropic a 'supply-chain risk' in March, prompting military branches to diversify their AI vendors. According to CEO Andy Markoff, the Marine Corps and Navy have been pressing Smack to speed production due to concerns about future conflicts being fought in decentralized environments.
Key Technology
Smack's core technology, Omega, uses reinforcement-learning models and real-time computer vision to generate options in minutes and repair upended battle plans in seconds. The company has won two prototyping contracts from the Joint Fires Network and the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab, worth over seven figures.
Funding and Growth
The Series B funding round was led by participants including Costanoa Ventures, First In, Point72 Ventures, and Geodesic Capital. Smack has grown from 19 employees in April to 51 at present, with plans to reach roughly 85 by year's end. The new funding will also be used to develop Alpha, a flexible forearm AI display, intended to replace improvised whiteboards used by troops in the field.