A London AI firm that offers real-time threat identification has raised £1.5m in an oversubscribed funding round.
Founded in early 2021 by former Royal Navy submariner Alex Kehoe, Vizgard said it raised the funds to scale the business and become a global leader in AI vision automation, bridging critical gaps in camera-based defence and public safety systems.
The round was led by Sure Valley Ventures (SVV), with participation from Midwich Ignite and Focal.
Kehoe said: “The UK has all the ingredients to lead the world in defence AI, but the pace of transitioning from Proof of Concept to deployment is lagging.
“We’re excited to welcome our new investors onboard who are aligned with our mission to fully automate the cameras that protect us, while maintaining public privacy.”
Vizgard’s FortifAI software platform harnesses low-power, commercially available processors to enhance a broad range of systems, including security cameras, counter-drone technologies, and unmanned vehicles. It provides precise, real-time threat identification and automatic camera control, significantly reducing operator workload.
Vizgard has already secured contracts from the Ministry of Defence, HMGCC Co-Creation, several leading defence technology companies and a major UK transport organisation. Vizgard’s customers also include Sesanti, a leading British camera manufacturer and multiple national-remit police departments.
“From the beginning, we focused on developing AI that could deliver the most immediate impact – operating at the edge, within or near moving cameras,” Kehoe said.
“Whether on land, in the air, or at sea, this approach ensures systems can react faster, act independently if GPS or communication is lost, and even act collaboratively to provide more actionable feedback.”
Visgard is also part of a £12 million Innovate UK consortium, led by Altitude Angel, developing a 165-mile drone superhighway. The UK Home Office also recently awarded Vizgard a significant contract to develop a portable knife-detection solution powered by its proprietary solution, FortifAI.
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