Quantum Systems Co-founder and Co-CEO Florian Seibel is becoming a rather prolific early stage investor in European Defence Tech startups. Companies like Poland’s Weles Acoustics received funding form Seibel and went on to become a part of the Quantum Systems family through acquisition of controlling / majority stakes. Weles’ particle velocity sensors were soon incorporate into Quantum’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) drones as the ‘WASP’ acoustic sensor payload.
The Weles / WASP acoustic sensor payload, utilised on Quantum Systems’ UAVs for artillery, mortar and small arms fire ranging, detection and (presumably) triangulation.
Having recently announced the company’s entry into the ground robotics domain with a UGV platform, and touting ‘Sea’ as ‘coming soon’ on their homepage we couldn’t help but wonder what the German company’s entry into maritime robotics might look like.
As we continue to map out the ‘Munich Defence Tech Mafia’, their investments, roles and partnerships in Cloud Empire™, we noticed two investments by Mr Siebel in British Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) startups:
Two very different British maritime robotics companies have both taken investment from Quantum Systems’ Co-CEO.
It’s not hard to imagine that Quantum Systems might seek to strengthen their position in these two USV startups:
- Kraken Technology - fast boats with pedigree from the world electric speed record breaking Vector Powerboats team (featuring YASA motors) - an ideal fast boat platform for strike, interdiction, FPV deployment etc.
- Online Oceans - at the more sedate end of the speed spectrum are the Scout autonomous ocean robots from the Dorset startup (recently backed by Elon Musk’s cousin - see Volume I of The Osborne Report here for more details on the company and vessel) - ideal for multiple month loitering / stationkeeping, persistent monitoring, towed array passive acoustic listening
The seemingly inexorable growth of Quantum Systems might suggest an inevitability to these two smaller companies becoming acquisition targets. However with indirect links to the world’s richest man via Sofar Ocean (of which his cousin Peter Rive is chair), who’ve already integrated their sensor suite onto the Scout USV, there might be some trans-Atlantic competition for equity in these bright young British businesses! The Royal Navy and Ministry of Defence in London might also have an opinion, given their involvement with both startups.
The shape of ships to come? We think Online Oceans and Kraken Technology might well be prospective acquisition targets for Quantum Systems’ Florian Siebel and team, following earlier investments in both British USV startups.
