Vizgard Raises £1.5m to Scale AI Vision Automation for Defence

AI software company Vizgard has successfully raised £1.5 million in a funding round led by Sure Valley Ventures to address the growing demand for automation in the defence sector. Founded in 2021 by ex-Royal Navy submariner Alex Kehoe, the London-based startup aims to bridge the gap between the UK's strategic defence AI vision and its practical implementation, as highlighted in a House of Commons Defence Committee report. Vizgard's FortifAI software platform enhances security systems such as cameras and unmanned vehicles by providing real-time threat identification and reducing operator workload. Additionally, a key aspect of their software is the Behaviour Risk Index algorithm, which offers a danger probability score while ensuring privacy through face blurring. As part of its growth strategy, Vizgard is involved in a £12 million Innovate UK consortium project to develop a drone superhighway. The funds raised will enhance its engineering and business development capabilities and expand international distribution. With a contract from the UK Home Office to work on knife-detection solutions, Vizgard is poised to lead in AI vision automation for the global defence market.