Startup · Israel
Kela
Updated HQ Tel Aviv-Yafo, IsraelFounded 2024
Israeli defense technology company building an open, modular command-and-control platform that integrates commercial AI models, sensors, drones and edge devices into existing military systems; its main customer is the Israel Ministry of Defense.
- AcquisitionsPelanor
- Jul 14, 2026News (high significance)Calcalist (CTech)Israeli startups Kela and eyesAtop to power IDF's autonomous attack drones
- May 6, 2026News (high significance)The Jerusalem PostIsraeli defense-tech co Kela raising $200m at $1.2b valuation
- Sep 28, 2025NewsGlobesDefense tech co Kela makes first acquisition
- May 13, 2025NewsCalcalist (CTech)Defense startup Kela raises $60 million, reaches $100 million in first-year funding
- Mar 17, 2025News (high significance)GlobesDefense tech co Kela raises $39m
Funding4 rounds · $299M
- Equity raised
- $299M
- Latest
- $200MStage undisclosed · May 5, 2026
- Last valuation
- $1.20B?Basis not stated · Stage undisclosed · May 5, 2026
| Announced | Stage | Amount | Valuation | Lead investors | Other investors | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, 2026 | Undisclosed | $200M | $1.20B? | D1 Capital Partners, Stripes | Bill Ackman, Eric Schmidt, Lux Capital, Sequoia Capital | Reported |
| May 13, 2025 | Undisclosed | $60.0M | — | — | In-Q-Tel, Lux Capital, Sequoia Capital | Reported |
| Mar 17, 2025 | Seed | $11.0M | — | Sequoia Capital | — | Reported |
| Mar 17, 2025 | Series A | $28.0M | — | Lux Capital | In-Q-Tel | Reported |
- UndisclosedLed by D1 Capital Partners, StripesWith Bill Ackman, Eric Schmidt, Lux Capital, Sequoia CapitalValuation $1.20B?$200MMay 5, 2026
- UndisclosedWith In-Q-Tel, Lux Capital, Sequoia Capital$60.0MMay 13, 2025
- SeedLed by Sequoia Capital$11.0MMar 17, 2025
- $28.0MMar 17, 2025
Raised counts equity rounds; debt, secondary sales and grants are totaled separately. Amounts in other currencies are converted at the announcement month's average rate. A ~ marks an estimated or converted amount.
Programs1 program
Programs1
| Program | Role | Program status | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Bat | Prime | Development | Reported |
- Prime · Development
Systems1
- Kela C2 platformOpen-architecture command-and-control system that fuses data from sensors, drones and other systems into a unified command interface; deployed at Israeli border outposts and selected for the Digital Bat attack-drone C2 program.Limited fielding—
Newest unveiled first. Systems that belong to a government program link to the program page, where variants, costs and contracts are.
Capabilities3
| Technology | Role | Maturity | TRL | Notes | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Command, control and communications | Developer | — | — | classify_sectors run 37, haiku, taxonomy 2026-10-18b: Open, modular C2 platform integrating AI, sensors and drones into military systems, with the Israel Ministry of Defense as main customer. | Reported |
| Information management and cybersecurity | Developer | — | — | classify_sectors run 37, haiku, taxonomy 2026-10-18b: Open, modular C2 platform integrating AI, sensors and drones into military systems, with the Israel Ministry of Defense as main customer. | Reported |
| Open-architecture C2 integration platforms | Developer | Limited fielding | — | — | Reported |
- Developerclassify_sectors run 37, haiku, taxonomy 2026-10-18b: Open, modular C2 platform integrating AI, sensors and drones into military systems, with the Israel Ministry of Defense as main customer.—Reported
- Developerclassify_sectors run 37, haiku, taxonomy 2026-10-18b: Open, modular C2 platform integrating AI, sensors and drones into military systems, with the Israel Ministry of Defense as main customer.—Reported
Maturity and TRL describe this organization's work; the field-wide maturity is on each technology's page.
Supply Chain2 facilities
Facilities2
| Facility | Kind | Location | Status | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kela headquarters, Tel Aviv | Headquarters | Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel | Operating | Reported |
| Kela factory, southern Israel | Factory | Southern District, Israel | Operating | Reported |
- Kela headquarters, Tel AvivHeadquarters · Tel Aviv-Yafo, IsraelOperatingReported
- Kela factory, southern IsraelFactory · Southern District, IsraelOperatingReported
People4
| Person | Role |
|---|---|
| Alon Dror · LinkedIn ↗ | Co-founder and CEO |
| Hamutal Meridor · LinkedIn ↗ | Co-founder and President |
| Jason Manne · LinkedIn ↗ | Co-founder and VP Product |
| Omer Bar-Ilan · LinkedIn ↗ | Co-founder and VP R&D |
Sources10
Profile3
- 1
Kela Technologies · Supports Organization, Organization · x url
“Kela is a secure, open platform enabling rapid and seamless integration of commercial and military systems in service of Western defense.”
- 2
Supports Organization · name
“Kela | Battle-tested tech for modern warfare”
- 3OtherBlack Flag 100.2
Black Flag · Supports Organization
“Kela Technologies builds an open, modular platform that integrates AI, sensors, and edge devices into existing military systems”
Systems2
- 4
The Jerusalem Post · May 6, 2026 · Supports Facility, Organization, Organization technology, System
“The company has opened a factory in the south that specializes, among other things, in the production of ammunition.”
- 5
Calcalist (CTech) · Mar 17, 2025 · Supports Facility, Funding round, Funding round · investors, Role, System
“Kela currently has about 25 employees and operates from offices in Tel Aviv.”
Funding5
- 6
Calcalist (CTech) · Jul 14, 2026 · Supports Funding round
“The company, which recently raised $200 million, has developed a system that collects information from a wide range of military and commercial sources”
- 7
Globes · May 5, 2026 · Supports Funding round · amount, Funding round · post money valuation usd, Role
“is currently completing a $200 million financing round at a company valuation of $1.2 billion, a source close to the deal has told "Globes."”
- 8NewsKela raising $200 million at $1 billion valuation with backing from Bill Ackman and Eric Schmidt
Calcalist (CTech) · May 5, 2026 · Supports Funding round, Funding round · post money valuation usd
“is in the process of raising $200 million at a pre-money valuation of $1 billion”
- 9
Calcalist (CTech) · May 13, 2025 · Supports Funding round · amount, Funding round · investors
“Israeli defense-tech startup Kela Technologies has secured an additional $60 million in funding, bringing its total raised to $100 million since its founding in July 2024.”
- 10
Globes · Mar 17, 2025 · Supports Funding round · amount, Organization · founded year
“raised $11 million in a seed round led by Sequoia Capital.”
Each fact on this page is attached to the sources that support it. Archived copies are linked when we keep one.