Latvian defense technology startup “Origin” continues to help Ukraine and raises 4 million euros

You can often read about the success of Latvian companies in the mass media. One of them is Origin, a defense technology startup that specializes in reusable, autonomous drones that can deliver weapons much more cheaply than similar solutions. The company has found a place in defense technology, contributing significantly to Ukraine‘s war with Russia and just raising 4 million euros.

In response to the Russian attack on Ukraine, “Origin” was founded in March 2022 by Agris Ķipurs and Ilya Nevdahs, who have rich experience in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles. Together they created a company “Ardeag“, which develops commercial, autonomous drones widely used for filming extreme sports. This company now belongs to For US smart home solutions developer Alarm.com. At the same time, the “Origin” project of “Airdog” lives on its own independent life and nobly carries the name of Latvia to the world.

Origin’s flagship product is the BEAK, a high-precision drone-launched weapon system, or unmanned aerial vehicle. It is portable, equipped with a camera, able to fly independently and withstand intense radio conditions. Therefore, this solution is very suitable for war situations in Ukraine. Crucially, instead of detonating, the BEAK system delivers the weapon to the target intact. Therefore, it can be used again and it saves costs a lot.

Others value the work of the beginner. “Origin” has concluded agreements with two NATO countries. The 4 million euros raised is just a huge success for the company. 2.4 million of them were invested by Change Ventures and Silicon Roundabout Ventures. On the other hand, 1.6 million euros were received from the European Union and the Ministry of Defense of Latvia. This funding will allow Origin to accelerate product development and expand the team.