Revolutionizing Drone Technology: The Story of Theseus
On February 18, 2024, Ian Laffey shared a groundbreaking discovery on social media. Alongside his new acquaintances, Sacha Lévy and Carl Schoeller, they successfully engineered a cost-effective drone at a hackathon. What set their creation apart was its ability to determine coordinates using only its camera and Google Maps, a feat that could potentially combat GPS interference faced by drone operators in Ukraine.
In Ukraine, drone operators rely on advanced goggles for visual navigation due to GPS jamming. However, this method poses challenges, particularly in adverse weather conditions such as fog or nighttime.
Following the hackathon, Schoeller bid farewell to his teammates, hoping for a reunion in the future.
The trio’s tweet quickly gained traction, leading them to apply to Y Combinator and secure a spot in the prestigious Spring 2024 cohort.
Today, their San Francisco-based startup, Theseus, has secured $4.3 million in seed funding from investors like First Round Capital, Y Combinator, and Lux Capital, as exclusively revealed to DailyTech.
Theseus joins the ranks of other drone-related ventures such as Skydio, Shield AI, and Anduril, making waves in the defense technology sector.
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Unlike traditional drone manufacturers, Theseus focuses on developing hardware components and software that enable military drones to operate without GPS guidance. Schoeller emphasized that their software does not handle target identification but rather focuses on navigating drones from point A to B.
While Theseus has yet to secure military contracts or deploy its technology in combat settings, the company plans to utilize its recent funding to enhance its technology and expand its engineering team.
Interestingly, the viral hackathon tweet caught the attention of U.S. Special Forces, leading to an agreement for early testing and collaboration. Theseus recently conducted trials at a classified Special Forces facility, showcasing its innovative system in action.
Despite the unconventional beginnings of founding a company with newfound acquaintances, Theseus CEO Carl Schoeller expressed optimism about the journey in a LinkedIn post.
