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Elon Musk has outlandish plans for Neuralink’s brain-computer interfaces, from giving people “superpowers” to downloading their memories. Spanish rival Inbrain Neuroelectronics has a simpler goal: improving our health — and nothing more. “I know Elon Musk might want to use Neuralink to drive a Tesla or something like that, but we will never go beyond therapeutic applications,” Carolina Aguilar, Inbrain’s CEO and co-founder, told TNW.   While Musk has captured headlines with futuristic ambitions for human enhancement, Inbrain has been steadily focused on developing its neural interfaces to treat neurological diseases. The company’s tech also stands apart. It’s built on the “wonder material” graphene.  Graphene is an ultra-thin, strong, flexible material that conducts electricity without degrading. It has the potential to be more effective and less invasive than the metals and polymers employed in brain-computer interfaces by companies like Neuralink, Blackrock Neurotech, or Medtronic. Open AI, Cherry Ventures Datasnipper, Monzo, bunq & many more confirmed for TNW Conference 2025 Join 1000s of founders, investors and innovation champions in Amsterdam on June 19 & 20. Inbrain’s device is made up of tiny graphene electrodes on a film thinner than a human hair. The implant reads electrical signals from the brain and, when necessary, sends electrical pulses back. It’s designed to treat neurological disorders by targeting the root cause: faulty brain signals.  Inbrain’s first focus is Parkinson’s disease. Its graphene-based implant is designed to detect specific neural signals tied to motor function, then deliver ultra-precise stimulation only when needed. “It won’t cure the disease, but it will cure the symptoms of it,” said Aguilar. From the lab to the human brain Last year, Inbrain carried out the world’s first in-human trial of its graphene-based implant at the University of Manchester.  Surgeons temporarily placed the device on a patient’s brain during tumour surgery. In just 79 minutes, it identified healthy and cancerous tissue with micrometre precision. Inbrain now plans to test the device in up to 10 patients to assess graphene’s safety in the brain, as part of the EU’s €1bn Graphene Flagship project.  After that, Inbrain aims to begin clinical trials of its therapeutic implant for Parkinson’s disease, said Aguilar.  That system will combine two components: a thin, cellophane-like sheet that rests on the brain’s surface to read electrical activity, and a second, deeper implant that delivers highly targeted stimulation to areas controlling movement.  “With artificial intelligence, the device can learn from each patient’s brain to deliver personalised neurological therapy,” Aguilar explained.   But that’s just the beginning. Inbrain hopes to use the same closed-loop system to tackle conditions such as epilepsy, dementia, and chronic pain. Ultimately, it could help restore lost functions like speech or movement in patients with neurological damage.  Founded in 2020, Inbrain has raised $100mn to date, according to Aguilar. That includes a $50mn Series B round closed last year and a $4.5mn grant from the Spanish Ministry of Industry and Tourism, announced last week. When asked about the company’s future funding prospects, Aguilar indicated an IPO was an option.  “We want to have the biggest impact as quickly as possible, and if going public is the best route to get there, we’ll take it,” she said. Aguilar also said that they would be open to being acquired by the “right partner”, but added that she’s not sure if Neuralink would be “a good fit.” The future of tech is a key theme of TNW Conference, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Tickets for the event are now on sale — use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the checkout to get 30%. source

Helsing, Europe’s best-funded defence tech startup, has unveiled its latest product — an autonomous mini-submarine for underwater reconnaissance.  Dubbed SG-1 Fathom, the sub is the latest addition to Europe’s growing fleet of ocean drones, which aim to better protect the continent’s ships and subsea infrastructure from surveillance, sabotage, and attacks.  The 1.95-metre Fathom is designed to slowly patrol the ocean for up to three months at a time. The vessel is powered by an AI platform called Lura. The system is a large acoustic model (LAM) — like a large language model (LLM) but for sound.  Lura is able to classify sounds made by ships and submarines and then pinpoint their locations. Helsing said the algorithm can identify sounds at volumes 10 times quieter than competing AI models. It also works at 40 times the speed of an equivalent human operator. The 💜 of EU tech The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol’ founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It’s free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now! Helsing said the “mass-producible” submarines can be deployed in hundreds-strong “constellations” to carry out large-scale surveillance.  Helsing plans to build the autonomous ocean drones in large numbers. Credit: Helsing Ocean reconnaissance of this kind has become increasingly urgent since the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, which exposed the vulnerability of underwater assets to covert attacks. European nations NATO are also stepping up their maritime defences amid growing concerns over Russian aggression.  In Ukraine, ocean drones have already become an important tool in its war against Moscow. High-tech arsenal  The war in Ukraine is increasingly characterised by battles between autonomous systems, mainly unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). However, the battle between machines is also playing out in the seas.   Earlier this month, Ukraine used its Magura naval drone to shoot down two Russian aircraft. The Magura, armed with missiles, has been used extensively since 2023 to attack and destroy Russian ships and aircraft.  The country is also expanding its fleet of waterborne drones. Last week, Ukrainian company Nordex unveiled the Seawolf, an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) for combat, surveillance, and border security applications.     British company Kraken is developing a similar uncrewed boat that can engage enemies in combat or deliver cargo and personnel. Meanwhile, Denmark is set to trial autonomous sailboats to patrol the Baltic Sea looking for signs of potential threats.    The adoption of drones at sea comes amid rising geopolitical tensions, which have prompted European officials to go all-in on defence tech.  In March 2025, EU leaders endorsed the “ReArm Europe” plan, aiming to mobilise up to £683bn (€800bn) over the next four years to enhance military capabilities. Similarly, the UK government has committed to raising defence spending to 2.5% of GDP and wants to spend at least 10% of its defence budget on “innovative technologies”.  Helsing looks to capitalise on this political momentum. The company told Bloomberg last month that it has “won over a dozen contracts” with “total order volumes of hundreds of millions of dollars” since its founding in 2021.   Helsing, which is valued at €5bn ($5.4bn), is perhaps best known for its combat drones and AI software that acts like the brain for military vehicles such as fighter jets. Fathom marks its first entry into ocean-bound technology.  Several naval forces have already shown interest in Helsing’s autonomous submarine, the company said. It aims to deploy the first fleets of underwater drones within a year.  Defence tech is a key theme of the Assembly, the invite-only policy track of TNW Conference. The event takes place in Amsterdam on June 19 — a week before the NATO Summit arrives in the city. Tickets for TNW Conference are now on sale — use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the checkout to get 30% off. source

The Danish Armed Forces are set to trial four autonomous sea drones that will patrol Northern Europe waters, looking for signs of criminal activity.  Powered by wind and solar, the uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) will gather real-time data using sensors and cameras positioned both above and beneath the water. An onboard computer will stream this data to a machine learning algorithm that is trained to spot patterns and potential threats. The technology is designed to help the Danish defence forces identify threats such as enemy submarines, illegal fishing, drug smuggling, or tampering with undersea cables. The drones will also perform deep-sea mapping to give authorities a clearer perspective of the ocean floor and underwater infrastructure, such as communication cables, pipelines, and offshore energy platforms.  Surveillance of this kind has become increasingly urgent since the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, which exposed the vulnerability of underwater assets to covert attacks. Denmark is also stepping up its maritime defences in the Baltic Sea amid growing concerns over Russian aggression. The 💜 of EU tech The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol’ founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It’s free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now! The robotic sailboats are made and operated by Saildrone, a US-based tech firm founded by British engineer Richard Jenkins in 2012. In its early days, Saildrone mainly focused on climate and weather surveying. But now the vast majority of its 140-strong fleet is deployed for defence and security purposes.  “The Baltic, North Sea, and European Arctic waters are currently facing unprecedented threats,” said Jenkins. “We are very excited to be partnering with the Danish armed forces to deploy Saildrone systems to help protect Europe’s critical undersea infrastructure and increase regional security.” Denmark’s army will begin testing the four vessels in June, as part of a broader effort to beef up its high-tech defences, including deploying mine-hunting underwater drones and uncrewed surveillance aircraft.  Last month, the Nordic country announced a $614mn spending package. It will use the money to procure 26 new naval vessels, more drones, and sonar equipment in response to emerging maritime threats — particularly from Russia.  Last month, the company set up a Danish subsidiary in Copenhagen, which it hopes will bring the technology closer to key defence markets including the UK, France, and Germany. Defence tech is a key theme of the Assembly, the invite-only policy track of TNW Conference. The event takes place in Amsterdam on June 19 — a week before the NATO Summit arrives in the city. Tickets for TNW Conference are now on sale — use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the checkout to grab an exclusive discount. source

A flying car that morphs into a plane in just 80 seconds is set to go on sale in early 2026. Slovakian flying car maker Klein Vision unveiled the Aircar 2, its first “production-ready” prototype, today.  Klein Vision co-founder Anton Zajac told TNW that the vehicle will cost between $800,000 and $1mn.  The original Aircar garnered a lot of attention back in 2021 when it successfully conducted a 35-minute inter-city test flight. The Aircar 2 will have some major upgrades over its predecessor. The 💜 of EU tech The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol’ founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It’s free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now! Klein Vision has scrapped the 1.6-litre BMW engine for a new 280-horsepower motor with twice the power. This is set to boost the aircraft’s cruising speed from 170 to 250 km/h, shorten the takeoff distance, and increase its overall safety.  The new model will be made of a single shell (monocoque), which will provide better structural support. The Aircar 2 is designed to transform into a plane in just 1 minute, 20 seconds — about half the time it previously took.  In driving mode, with its wings folded, the Aircar 2 will be able to clock up to 200km/h. Credit: Klein Vision The flying car will have a range of around 1000km and be powered by petrol. Klein Vision plans to go electric “as soon as the energy density of the batteries is good enough,” Zajac said.   Owners of the flying car, which measures 5.8-metres in length, will be able to store it in most standard parking spots. Once they want to fly, they would have to drive the vehicle to their local airport, press a button to deploy the wings and rudder, and take-off. Once landed, they could drive on to their destination. The car has a top speed of 200 km/h on the road.  The aircraft is based on 35 years of development led by Slovakian aviation expert Stefan Klein. The first Aircar, launched in 2016, has already clocked 170 flight hours and more than 500 takeoffs and landings. It received a certificate of airworthiness to fly in 2022.   Klein Vision already has pre-orders for the Aircar 2 and a “few interested potential clients,” said Zajac. The company recently unveiled the production prototype at the Living Legends of Aviation Gala Dinner in Beverly Hills. Guests at the event included Hollywood actors John Travolta and Morgan Freeman, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, and Prince Harry. The Aircar 2 might also be available in red. Credit: Klein Vision Klein Vision is already building the first production version of the AirCar 2 at its workshop in Slovakia. In September, the company plans to acquire an airworthiness certificate for the new model, which would allow it to make 100 units a year. After that, Klein Vision aims to obtain the European Aviation Safety Agency’s CS-32 certificate, which would remove restrictions on production numbers. Klein Vision, which has a team of only seven people, is completely bootstrapped. The first Aircar cost around $5mn to build. Most of that funding came from Zajac, who is a prominent tech investor. He indicated, however, that the company is “open” to external investment as it prepares to ramp up production of the new model. The future of tech is a key theme of TNW Conference, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Tickets for the event are now on sale — use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the checkout to get 30%. source

Dutch neobank Bunq today launched a crypto trading service for over 300 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. The service launches today and is available to Bunq users in the Netherlands, France, Spain, Ireland, Italy, and Belgium. It’s offered via Kraken, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges.   Bunq plans to “gradually expand” the offering to the rest of the European Economic Area (EEA), the UK, and the US.  “Our users across the world have long waited for a simple, safe, and straightforward way to invest in digital assets,” said Ali Niknam, the bank’s founder and CEO.  The 💜 of EU tech The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol’ founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It’s free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now! Niknam — who will reveal his growth strategy at TNW Conference on June 20 — founded Bunq in 2012. The Dutch unicorn company has grown to become Europe’s second-largest neobank, with over 17 million registered users, behind only Revolut’s 50 million users. The launch of its first crypto offering follows a period of strong growth for Bunq. The company reported €85.3mn in profits for 2024, marking its second consecutive year of profitability and a 65% jump from the previous year. It has also recently applied for banking licences in the UK and the US. With its expansion into crypto trading, however, Bunq is entering a crowded market. The platform will compete with heavyweights, including Revolut — the continent’s leading neobank and most valuable fintech. Revolut has been offering crypto trading since 2017, allowing users to buy, hold, and exchange digital assets within its app.  Neobanks typically make money off crypto by charging transaction fees on trades or conversions. While the crypto market has been notoriously volatile in recent years, it’s widely predicted to grow substantially over the next decade. If you want to watch Ali Niknam’s talk or anything else on the packed agenda for TNW Conference, we have a special offer for you. Use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the checkout to get 30% off your ticket. source

A year ago this week, a viral hit offered a glimpse into the future of AI music: “BBL Drizzy.” The song emerged during the feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake. As the rappers traded disses, a New York-based comedian named Willonius Hatcher — aka King Willonious — brought his own track to the beef. Inspired by a dubious claim that Drake had a Brazilian butt lift, “BBL Drizzy” blended AI, comedy, pop culture, and music. The song swiftly went viral. It was later sampled in a beat by star producer Metro Boomin, which also went viral, and got rapped over by Drake himself.  “BBL Drizzy” became a cultural touchstone. The Washington Post called it “a real breakthrough for AI art,” while Wired described it as “the beginning of the future of AI music.” Time magazine named Willionius one of the 100 most influential people in AI. Willonius — who will speak at TNW Conference on June 19 — is modest about his creation. “It was just one of those things where everything was in perfect alignment,” he says. But that’s selling his success short. Willonius has established a proven track record for creating online sensations. Here are some of his tips on striking internet gold. The 💜 of EU tech The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol’ founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It’s free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now! 1. Hone your skills Willonius had spent years honing his craft as a comedian and writer before shifting focus to AI. He’s challenged himself to write 30 scripts in 30 days, produce an album every month, and “put in my 10,000 hours” to master comedy music.  He applied that same work ethic to AI. From December 2022 to April 2023, he spent eight hours a day prompting in ChatGPT. He also experimented intensively with visual tools, creating over 30,000 images in Midjourney and generating movie trailers for his scripts. “You never know what could go viral,” he says. “All that you can do is just maintain a system and a work ethic. Even when [‘BBL Drizzy’] went viral, my whole thing was to keep working.” 2. Capture a zeitgeist Timing is a key ingredient in viral success — and “BBL Drizzy” arrived at a perfect moment. Interest in AI was surging and the Drake-Kendrick feud had captivated the public. In April, rapper Rick Ross made his own contribution to the beef, claiming that Drake’s posterior was, um, surgically enhanced. Days earlier, a team of former Google DeepMind researchers had released the beta version of a powerful new AI music generator called Udio. Willonius brought all of this together. He penned comedy lyrics that gently mocked Drake and prompted Udio to turn them into various songs. Eventually, he settled on a vintage ’70s soul sound. With a catchy title and a chorus about the alleged butt-boost, the track brought the feud into a new dimension.    “There were comedians trying to make jokes about it,” Willonius says. “But not really making any songs about that beef.” 3. Don’t just follow the crowd Willonius has always been fascinated by new forms of creativity. In 2007, he scored a viral hit on YouTube — a parody of Soulja Boy’s widely mocked yet wildly influential “Crank That.” But he was soon looking for more original paths.  Rather than follow trends, he sought new approaches. “If I would have done skits on TikTok, I would have just been doing it because everybody else was doing it,” he says. “And in my career, every time I’ve gone my own way, that’s when I’ve had the most success.” 4. Be consistent There’s no guaranteed formula for viral success. Willonius prefers to focus on the factors he can control. One of them is consistency. When he first started creating AI videos, they didn’t always bring in the views that he had expected. “It made me curb my expectations for my content — because you don’t know what’s ever going to go viral.” Instead of obsessing over every view, Willonius focused on releasing a steady stream of quality content. It eventually hit the mark. “Don’t worry about the views,” he suggests. “Just worry about the consistency and if you like what you produce. Everything else is out of your control.” 5. Embrace kaizen In his approach to consistency, Willonius applies a Japanese concept called “kaizen.” A philosophy of continuous improvement, kaizen emphasises the importance of small, incremental changes. “Every time you make art, you should make it with the intention of being better than the last time you made some art,” he says.  “Those are two things I do: stay consistent and just try to get better each time. And if I do those two things, I’m satisfied with the outcome.” 6. Quality counts One big reason for “BBL Drizzy’s” success? It’s simply a great song The catchy hook, memorable lyrics, and classic soul sound are a delight to the ear. “I think it proved that people don’t really care whether a song is AI generated or not,” Willonius says. “They just wanted to enjoy it and make them feel something. And when you heard that song, it made you laugh.” 7. Find your audience As the beef between Drake and Lamar turned ugly, “BBL Drizzy” offered welcome respite. It was a funny, light-hearted, good-natured counter to a vicious rap feud. The approach gave the track a broad appeal. “It’s a fun song — the lyrics are funny and it’s clean,” Willonius says. “Everybody across every age group, genre, and gender can enjoy it. Little children can sing it — and it’s a very singable song.” 8. Keep an eye on the future Pop culture and technology both move fast. Willonius follows each of them closely, keeping an eye out for emerging trends. He’s particularly excited about the creative possibilities of AI video. “We’re at the point now where anybody could make an AI feature film if they wanted to…

US food delivery giant DoorDash has acquired British rival Deliveroo in a £2.9bn ($3.9bn) deal, ending the UK business’ rocky tenure as a public company.  The all-cash offer, priced at £1.80 ($2.40) per share, represents a 77% premium over Deliveroo’s recent trading price. However, the acquisition price is less than half its 2021 IPO valuation of £7.6bn. Deliveroo’s board unanimously backed the deal. CEO and co-founder Will Shu, who owns 6.4% of the company, is set to pocket £172mn.  The merger will expand DoorDash’s footprint in Europe, where it has lagged behind competitors like Uber Eats and Just Eat. Deliveroo’s largest markets are the UK and Ireland, which account for around 60% of its total orders. In Europe, the company also has a presence in France, Belgium, and Italy. The 💜 of EU tech The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol’ founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It’s free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now! Tony Xu, CEO and co-founder of DoorDash, said the acquisition would bring together two teams that have “similar visions and values.”  “Deliveroo is just such a team and one that I have long admired,” he said. “[Together] we’ll cover more than 40 countries with a combined population of more than 1 billion people, enabling us to provide more local businesses with the tools and technology they need to thrive.” Founded in London in 2013 by Shu and Greg Orlowski, Deliveroo quickly grew from a local startup into an international player. It pioneered “dark kitchens” with its Deliveroo Editions model and introduced a subscription service, Deliveroo Plus, in 2017.  The company raised a total of £1.2bn over several rounds. The largest was a £432mn ($575mn) round in 2019 led by Amazon. Two years later, Deliveroo listed on the London Stock Exchange at the height of the COVID pandemic delivery boom.  However, Deliveroo’s shares fell 14% on debut, and the company struggled to meet investor expectations. By 2022, it exited markets like Australia, the Netherlands, and Germany to refocus on core operations.  Still, 2024 marked a turnaround, with Deliveroo posting its first annual pre-tax profit of £12mn ($16mn). Despite that progress, DoorDash’s bid proved compelling.  “I want to thank all of our incredibly skilled people, dedicated riders and merchants and our loyal consumers for helping us to build the successful business we have today,” Shu said. “I hope they share our excitement about what the future holds.” Up to 830 jobs could be cut post-acquisition, mostly in back-office roles, though both firms pledged to minimise redundancies. Deliveroo will retain its London HQ and existing GMB union agreements. DoorDash said the combined company will invest in tech and logistics to better compete globally. For Deliveroo, it’s the end of independence. For DoorDash, it’s a bold bet on Europe’s fragmented but still-growing food delivery market. source

German drone maker Quantum Systems has raised €160mn at a valuation north of €1bn, becoming Europe’s latest defence tech unicorn.   Quantum Systems builds electric, AI-powered autonomous surveillance drones that are dual-use, meaning they can serve both military and civil purposes.   Defence forces can use the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to spy on enemies and gather intel. The drones can also be used by farmers to inspect their crops, by energy companies to check power lines, and by search and rescue teams to look for survivors.   Florian Seibel, co-CEO and co-founder of Quantum Systems, said the company was ready to become the European leader in “robotised and AI-powered aerial intelligence solutions” for both defence and civilian applications. “The need for sovereign, aerial intelligence has never been more pressing,” he added.  The latest funding round, led by the UK’s Balderton Capital, brings Quantum Systems’ total capital raised to $284mn (€250mn), according to Dealroom data. The round also saw participation from Airbus Defence and Space, Bullhound Capital, and existing angel investor Peter Thiel.  Open AI, Cherry Ventures Datasnipper, Monzo, bunq & many more confirmed for TNW Conference 2025 Join 1000s of founders, investors and innovation champions in Amsterdam on June 19 & 20. Quantum Systems has already secured several major defence contracts, including with the German, Spanish, and British armed forces. Its flagship drone, the Vector AI, has been tested in Ukraine, which has become a major battlefield testing ground for dual-use technologies.   Tekever is another European startup that has surveillance drones in active deployment in Ukraine. Founded in Portugal, the dual-use firm recently raised “tens of millions” in fresh capital at a valuation “beyond $1bn (€882mn),” its CEO, Ricardo Mendes, told the Financial Times.    Similarly to Quantum Systems, soldiers use Tekever’s long-distance UAVs to cover vast areas and carry out reconnaissance. Its drones have also been used to search for small-boat migrant smugglers in the English Channel and monitor pipelines in Nigeria. Quantum Systems and Tekever are both benefiting from a surge in European defence tech investment. This growth is partly fueled by rising security concerns — driven by Russia’s aggression and the Trump administration’s warning that it may cut US military support to Europe. Defence tech startups in Europe raised $613mn (€540mn) in venture capital in 2024, the largest value ever recorded, according to Dealroom. The bulk of those funds was secured by just one company — Germany’s Helsing.  Defence tech is a key theme of the Assembly, the invite-only policy track of TNW Conference. The event takes place in Amsterdam on June 19 — a week before the NATO Summit arrives in the city. Tickets for TNW Conference are now on sale — use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the checkout to grab an exclusive discount. source

Have you heard of the privacy paradox? It’s the contradiction between our claims to care about privacy — and our refusal to protect it. The paradox came to mind while working on the debut episode of our brand-new podcast: TNW Backstage. The show takes you behind the scenes of TNW Conference — and the tech shaping our world. Our first episode features a standout guest: Ron de Jesus, the world’s first Field Chief Privacy Officer. The conversation explores the evolution of privacy threats. One hot topic is Meta’s controversial “pay or consent” model, which gives users a stark choice: allow ad-tracking or go ad-free for a fee. The 💜 of EU tech The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol’ founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It’s free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now! When we spoke to Ron last year, the strategy was drawing fire from regulators, civil society groups, and nonprofits. But did that scare users away? Not really. Meta’s user base has continued growing — and the company is doubling down on the model.  It’s a prime example of the privacy paradox in action. In TNW Backstage, we dig into these tensions and other big privacy issues. We also discuss how they’re shaping the agenda for this year’s TNW Conference. To celebrate the podcast’s launch, we’re offering an exclusive discount on tickets for the event, which takes place on June 19 and 20. Tune in to TNW Backstage via the media player below to unlock the offer. Thanks for reading — and now, for listening too. source

Latvian startup Origin Robotics today launched BLAZE, an autonomous interceptor drone designed to destroy enemy drones by ramming into them or blowing them up. BLAZE is deployable on the battlefield in less than a minute. It comes in a small briefcase which doubles as a launchpad and charging dock.  Powered by computer vision, BLAZE has been trained to spot the difference between different aircraft types and distinguish them from other objects, such as birds. It combines this system with traditional radar to track aerial targets with high precision.      Once it locks onto an enemy unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), BLAZE takes off from the ground and zips off to intercept it. Equipped with a warhead, it smashes into the target, blowing up itself and the enemy drone too. It can also self-detonate once it gets close to its adversary.   While this may seem wasteful, each unit costs at least 10 times less than the drone threats it is designed to intercept, Origin told TNW, without revealing the exact price tag. While BLAZE is autonomous, Origin says operators retain oversight until the final moment. The device also has a “wave-off” function, which allows the drone to return safely or self-destruct if needed. This aims to reduce the chances of friendly fire.  As drones reshape modern warfare, Origin pitches BLAZE as a cheap solution to counter them, filling the gap between gun-based air defence and pricey missile interceptors.  “The need for a system like BLAZE is immediate — it’s driven by real-world operational demands that are unfolding right now,” Agris Kipurs, CEO and co-founder of Origin Robotics, told TNW. He added that the company plans to “enable NATO armies across Europe.”  One of its potential customers is the military in Ukraine, where small UAVs equipped with explosives have quickly become the weapon of choice in the fight against Russia. Origin’s flagship drone, BEAK, is already deployed in active combat in Ukraine.  But Ukraine also faces its own onslaught of Russian drones, which has left it scrambling for lower-cost ways to counter these mass-produced aerial threats.  In January 2025 alone, Russia launched over 2,500 drones into Ukrainian territory.  “We designed BLAZE specifically to address this threat — a fast, intelligent, and cost-effective addition to existing air defence systems,” Kipurs said.  “In asymmetric warfare, drones are relatively inexpensive and widely deployed to overwhelm air defences and strike targets both at the frontline and deep behind it, making it challenging and costly to counter,” he added. Ukraine has increasingly relied on first-person view (FPV) interceptor drones to counter Russian UAV attacks. These piloted FPVs are basically consumer-grade drones with an explosive attached.   “While creative, this approach is extremely challenging and not scalable,” Kipurs said. Using FPVs as interceptors, he continued, “requires an exceptionally skilled pilot with extensive training and flight time — skills that are rare, even among experienced operators.” Kipurs co-founded Origin in 2022 alongside Ilja Nevdahs. The company has raised over $9mn to date. It also recently secured an R&D contract from the Latvian Ministry of Defence and a grant from the European Defence Fund. Defence tech is a key theme of the Assembly, the invite-only policy track of TNW Conference. The event takes place in Amsterdam on June 19 — a week before the NATO Summit arrives in the city. Tickets for TNW Conference are now on sale — use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the checkout to grab an exclusive discount. source