Gecko Robotics Raises $100M for Defense Technology

Gecko Robotics, the company behind Navy-deployed ship-scaling inspection robots, has extended its series C funding round with an additional $100 million, bringing its total raised to $173 million.

The company’s pipeline of inspection robots and data analytics programs is used to automate the asset inspection process, detecting structural damage in a bid to cut down times and accelerate maintenance cycles.

As part of the funding extension, Gecko said it is also adding representatives from defense technology companies US Innovative Technology Fund (USIT) and Founders Fund to its corporate board. 

The news marks the latest in a series of partnerships between Gecko and the U.S. military, as it ramps up deployment of its technology for defense purposes.

Last month, the company announced its partnership with the U.S. Navy to increase the speed of the manufacturing process for its $132 billion Columbia-class Sub program, with Gecko saying its tech will “help the Navy modernize the manufacturing and construction process.”

Gecko also signed a contract with the U.S. Air Force to modernize its strategic nuclear missile silos and has ongoing work with the Navy to help increase the speed of maintenance cycles for the surface fleet. 

“This investment is designed to help supercharge our work ensuring the critical assets that our military relies on to protect our national security are ready,” said Jake Loosararian, Gecko Robotics’ CEO. “From our work getting ships out of maintenance cycles faster to helping build the next generation of military equipment, Gecko is proud to be increasing our partnerships with the U.S. military.”

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Last month, Gecko also announced the launch of Cantilever, an AI-powered software platform used by the Navy and other customers to automate the industrial asset inspection processes.

Since the initial series C announcement, Gecko said it has seen a “major increase” in demand from both the U.S. military and its allies. 

“Preserving American military superiority requires that we not only maintain but also build and innovate our critical defense infrastructure," said Thomas Tull, USIT chairman. “Gecko is at the forefront of pioneering a new era of military readiness with robots and AI-powered software that will improve the systems necessary to maintaining our national safety and fulfill America’s vital responsibilities around the world.”