Defence startup Optera raises £3m led by UKI2S with Blackfinch Ventures
This article covers Optera, a neuromorphic sensing defence startup, which has raised £3m in a seed funding round to establish a United Kingdom headquarters and expand its engineering team as it relocates from Australia. The funding will support work on space domain awareness and on-orbit processing to serve European customers and defence programmes.
Optera, a neuromorphic sensing defence startup, has raised £3 million in a seed funding round to establish a United Kingdom headquarters and expand an engineering team as it relocates from Australia. The capital will fund work on space domain awareness (SDA) and on-orbit processing as the company positions itself to serve European customers and defence programmes.
Why it matters
The move and funding underline growing demand for sensing technologies that can operate persistently in increasingly congested or contested orbits. Optera’s approach promises lower data and power needs for tracking fast-moving objects, which matters for military and commercial operators running satellites, ground stations and surveillance networks. The deal also highlights targeted capital flows into dual-use deep-tech that overlaps defence, space and AI — an area UK policymakers have identified as crucial for sovereign capability and high-value jobs.
Inside the product
Optera develops event-based, neuromorphic sensors and AI analytics that operate more like the human eye than a traditional camera. Instead of capturing continuous frames, the system records changes in a scene, reducing the volume of data and the energy required to process it. That lets operators track and characterise fast objects in difficult lighting while enabling more processing at the edge — critical for on-orbit payloads with limited bandwidth and power.
The company says it has multiple years of on-orbit heritage with payloads currently operating, and plans to accelerate edge processing so satellites can generate more intelligence without constant downlinking. That capability can reduce operational costs and improve resilience for both civil and mission-critical customers.
Who are the investors?
The round was led by UKI2S, managed by Future Planet Capital, with participation from Blackfinch Ventures, Foresight Group, the National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF) and Empirical Ventures. NSSIF is a government-backed fund focused on strategic capability; UKI2S targets investments that support defence and security priorities through Future Planet Capital’s management. Blackfinch Ventures, Foresight Group and Empirical Ventures bring venture and growth capital experience in deep-tech and infrastructure sectors.
In the announcement, Kimberley Hay, Venture Director at Blackfinch Ventures, said:
Optera represents exactly the kind of deep-tech innovation we look to support at Blackfinch Ventures – technologies with clear commercial potential that also strengthen critical capabilities in emerging sectors. We’re excited to back a team translating cutting-edge sensing research into real-world impact for the UK space ecosystem.
In the announcement, Rubina Singh, Investor at Foresight Group, said:
Optera is translating cutting-edge neuromorphic sensing into real operational advantage for both national security and the wider global space markets. Its approach delivers a genuine step-change - dramatically lowering data and power requirements while enhancing resilience and opening the door to wider deployment across civil, commercial and mission-critical environments. Their relocation underscores the UK’s position as a place where frontier technology companies can scale. We’re excited to support the team building sovereign, world-leading sensing capability combining deep technical differentiation with growing commercial momentum.
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Founder perspective
Optera was spun out of Western Sydney University and is relocating to the UK to be closer to customers, talent and mission-focused capital. The company frames the move as both commercial and strategic: serving European defence and space programmes while building an onshore engineering base.
In the announcement, Jonathon Wolfe, CEO at Optera, said:
Our sensors 'see' like the human eye - reacting to change rather than capturing empty frames - so operators can track fast objects with higher confidence and at lower cost. This breakthrough gives our customers the edge they need in an increasingly complex space environment. The UK is where we want to grow: it's an outstanding environment for space innovation, with world-class customers, partners, universities and talent and we want to hear from them as we grow. We are grateful to have the backing of UKI2S (managed by Future Planet Capital), Blackfinch Ventures, Foresight Group, the National Security Strategic Investment Fund and Empirical Ventures - investors who share our vision for scaling dual-use capabilities that matter for both national security and global markets. This funding enables us to expand our UK engineering team, deliver key SDA and dual-use sensing programmes, and accelerate on-orbit processing so more intelligence can be generated at the edge. With this support, Optera is ready to build a sovereign capability here in the UK that strengthens national security and defence and creates high-value jobs in the process.
The bigger picture
Optera’s raise sits at the intersection of several trends: increased commercial activity in low Earth orbit, pressure on defence planners to bolster resilient sensing and awareness, and a push by UK policymakers to attract frontier technology firms. The investment also reflects a wider appetite from defence and space investors for dual-use systems that promise both export potential and sovereign capability.
As more research spin-outs look to the UK for customers, talent and mission-aligned capital, the deal could signal continued inward movement from international deep-tech teams — shaping the UK and European supply chain for space and defence technologies.
They've invested in Optera
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