UK drone and data intelligence firm plans global growth and faster product development
StirlingX has closed its extended Seed round at a total of $11 million, placing the company among Europe’s leading emerging drone and data intelligence firms. The round includes new and existing global investors and positions the UK-based company to expand its technology and operations at a key moment for trusted drone systems in allied nations.
According to the company, this level of funding places StirlingX “among the top 5% of European technology start-ups by total seed capital raised.” (The figure is based on public Pitchbook data covering European Seed-stage robotics and drone companies since 2022.)
A Growing Focus on Secure, Sovereign Drone Technology
The investment round was led by the RCM Private Markets Fund managed by Rokos Capital Management, with participation from GALLOS Technologies, ONE9, and angel investors. StirlingX says the new capital will help speed up product development, support expansion into new markets, and grow engineering and AI teams.
The company plans to scale manufacturing and research across its Cambridge and Oxford sites. Demand is rising for secure and sovereign drone platforms across allied defense programs and critical national infrastructure projects. StirlingX already supports clients including Murphy and National Grid on work ranging from pre-construction planning to surveying and compliance.
Dean Jones, CEO of StirlingX, said: “Completing our seed round marks another significant step in StirlingX’s growth. The confidence shown by our investors allows us to push further and faster in delivering sovereign, secure technology to partners across critical infrastructure and defence. With strong momentum behind us, we are well positioned to scale and deepen our impact across the markets we serve.”
Leadership Momentum and Expansion Plans
The company’s continued growth follows the recent appointment of former GCHQ Director Sir Jeremy Fleming as Chairman. Fleming noted that the latest investment highlights both opportunity and ambition:
“This is another clear signal of StirlingX’s ambition and progress. With world-class technology and a rapidly growing customer base, the company is demonstrating the essential role British innovation can play in securing and enhancing allied capability across critical national infrastructure and defence sectors.”
StirlingX specializes in drone operations and data intelligence for high-security and complex sites. Its platform integrates automated drones, resilient communications, and AI-driven analytics to turn aerial data into real-time, actionable intelligence.
As allied nations increase investment in secure autonomous systems, trusted UK-based suppliers continue to gain attention. StirlingX’s new funding signals that demand for sovereign, reliable drone technology remains strong across both the commercial and defense sectors.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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