Defense startup Saronic, located in Austin, has obtained $600 million through its Series C funding to construct the autonomous ship manufacturing facility known as “Port Alpha.” Saronic’s funding from Elad Gil and General Catalyst, along with Andreessen Horowitz, 8VC, and Caffeinated Capital, now values the company at $4 billion after a fourfold increase since its previous round.
Saronic stands among the top defense technology startups in the U.S. market, following Anduril at $14 billion and potentially Shield AI at a $5 billion valuation. The valuation discussions at Anduril indicate that the company could achieve a new market value of $28 billion.
The substantial investment into Saronic demonstrates that defense technology alongside autonomous warfare has captured significant interest from investors. Saronic has already produced three autonomous surface vessel models, which range from 24 feet in length, but plans to expand operations to build larger unmanned ships. Dino Mavrookas, the CEO of Port Alpha, told Defense News that the future shipyard will start its operations in five years. The selection process for a final site continues as an active initiative.
The Russian Navy suffered losses from drone ship operations in Crimea, forcing the U.S. Navy to escalate its unmanned naval technology development since Ukraine successfully utilized such vehicles in combat. Saronic’s expansion will hold strategic importance for strengthening the United States’ military capacities as the country races to counter China’s naval shipbuilding supremacy.
Saronic has achieved nearly $850 million in funding through its ability to create new maritime vessels combined with software development. The substantial funding demonstrates how defense technology has become a major force in Silicon Valley as billion-dollar investment rounds gain increasing popularity.
