Our investment in SE3: Spatial intelligence for autonomous systems
Although AI is expanding what autonomous systems can achieve, models that excel at language and image tasks do not give machines a reliable understanding of their environment and how to operate within it.
SE3 is closing that gap and bringing AI to the physical world.
Its software combines computer vision and AI to help machines turn sensor data into spatial intelligence, allowing them to operate autonomously in complex environments - including where satellite navigation is disrupted.
Building the spatial intelligence layer, starting with European defense
The team’s immediate focus is on European defense, with the long term vision extending to robotics and other civilian settings where machines need to operate in unpredictable conditions.
In an era of rapid geopolitical shifts, Europe’s investment in sovereign defense technology is rising. The EU aims to mobilise up to €800B in defense spending by 2030 and is advancing plans for a drone wall to protect the Eastern Flank.
At the same time, the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) is shifting the defense procurement landscape, creating an opportunity for reliable, independent software that can integrate across platforms.
SE3 is building sovereign, platform-agnostic software that integrates with manufacturers’ hardware without competing with it. We believe that puts the team in a compelling position to shape how the next generation of autonomous defense systems is built in Europe.
From the lab to the field
Spatial intelligence demands considerable technical depth, and that’s what stands out about this team.
Founders Lukas Köstler, Simon Klenk and Professor Daniel Cremers, met at one of Europe’s leading research labs at the Technical University of Munich, where Lukas and Simon were pursuing PhDs in computer vision and robotics. Together with Daniel, a Leibniz Prize winner, they are taking that research into environments where reliability and consistency are as important as advancing what’s technically possible.
The company is building on strong commercial momentum. SE3 is working on multiple contracts with Ukraine and with Germany’s armed forces, and is an AI partner to defense primes such as HENSOLDT, and to scale-ups including Auterion and ERC System.
What made us so excited to partner with SE3 was a rare combination of factors: an exceptional technical team with the ambition to build something truly significant, a hard problem that matters and that few are equipped to solve, a compelling “why now” moment, and extraordinary customer traction.
For Lukas, Simon, Daniel and the SE3 team, this funding marks the next stage in a long-term commitment to European defense, working with partners across the region to protect its shared future. We’re delighted to lead their $30M Series A as they build sovereign spatial intelligence for Europe.
