Juggling two jobs is a tough job. If any of your jobs are in a conflict zone, it can be especially tough. But for Ivan Kaunov these roles are complementary.
As CEO and co-founder bunter aerospace, Kaunoff develops drones for long-distance flights. As a member of the Ukrainian military, he flies drones on combat missions.
“We use them on the battlefield, and we know what works, what doesn't, and how they need to be modified to fit the realities of modern warfare.” the 33-year-old told TNW via video call. Secret military facility. “We have the fastest feedback loop ever. ”
This loop feeds back into Kaunoff's business. Buntar is already testing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the field. The company now wants to expand production for military reconnaissance.
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It is a plan with strong supporters in Ukraine, and Ukraine has become a testing ground. drone. They destroyed oil refineries deep in Russia from the air. On the ocean floor, they are sinking warships in occupied Crimea. In Kiev-controlled territory, they clear vast swaths of land of mines, carry out aerial surveillance and even engage in aerial combat with drones.
Due to the Ukraine war, It ushered in a new era of air combat. It's also ushering in a new wave of drone startups.
between the two For years under full-scale Russian aggression, Ukraine has relied heavily on foreign-made unmanned aerial vehicles.DJI drone in China hover continuously above the soldiers' heads. Bayraktar machines in Turkey are very popular. viral song.
These vehicles have proven to be powerful, but they also come with baggage. Deliveries to countries under invasion are often complicated. With demand outstripping supply, foreign manufacturers may find themselves at odds with their partnerships. Local production allows us to offer safer, cheaper and faster technology.
Kiev responded by increasing investment in domestically produced unmanned aerial vehicles.Government officials announce that more than 90% of the drones currently used by Ukraine on the front lines are domestically produced last month. The company aims to produce 1 million units by 2024.
These numbers are fueling the rapid growth of UAV startups.
drone business
according to of Prime Minister of Ukraine, there are currently about 200 companies manufacturing drones in the country. Just a year ago, there were only seven.
One of the startups launched during the war was Cerebra. The company is developing a diverse fleet of drones. Fixed wing aircraft for monitoring quadcopters attacking targets.
Cerebra He also brings military experience to the business. Team members took part in the battle, flying drones into the garrison of Azovstal Iron Works, the last stronghold of the siege of Mariupol in 2022.
“No one told us, so we gathered information little by little,” startup founder Jakib Ostash told TNW. “Then we worked with those who already had experience. First, we learned how to “fly” and organized UAV combat units. ”
Since then, developments have diversified.
In one week in early 2024, the country's drone fleet reportedly They destroyed 73 Russian tanks, as well as air defense systems, fuel depots, and hundreds of other high-value targets.
These successes have raised hopes that Ukraine is becoming a global powerhouse for unmanned aerial vehicles. Although the country cannot compete with the United States in resources or technology, the war has provided unique experience and expertise.
“We can become the world's leading country in supplying drones to other countries,” Ostash said. “Our engineers, who are currently developing all the technology here, have the potential to become the most sought-after specialists around the world.”
As armed conflict escalates, their focus goes beyond fighting. But they are already looking beyond conflict.
Dual use sector
Drones are typically dual-use, meaning they can be used for both military and civilian purposes. It can deliver mail as well as missiles, detect both bombs and earthquake survivors, and capture enemy bases and movie scenes.
“Almost all UAVs have more than one purpose,” says Viktor Rokotkov, chief marketing officer of a drone startup. sky assisttells TNW. “For example, our UAV Sirko can be used in the agricultural field or in rescue operations.”
New technologies have similar potential. Autonomous targeting can attack tanks or spray crops, while swarms of AI-controlled drones can fight soldiers or put out fires.
Adaptation goes both ways. First-person view drones (FPV), for example, send a video feed to goggles worn by a remote operator. These devices are typically modified quadcopters used for racing or photography. You can buy one ready-made for just a few hundred dollars. Add an RPG warhead and the toy becomes a bomber.
“There is no need to use expensive, high-tech unmanned aerial vehicles as kamikazes,” Rokotkov said. “All you need is $250 worth of wire and a propeller. And with this inexpensive device, you can disable a $4 million tank.”
FPV is praised for its low cost and high accuracy, making it widely popular on the battlefield.
To meet demand, Ukraine rapidly expanded domestic production.The country has doubled its FPV production from 50,000 to 100,000 units per month, according to government officials. Between December and February
This has been a boon for FPV manufacturers, but a big cloud is gathering. Russia is getting better at blocking cheap private conversion companies. said a Ukrainian drone operator. business insider Kremlin jammers could increasingly interfere with signals between pilots and drones, it said.
Vitaly Kryukov, commander of prowling munitions for Ukraine's elite Adam tactical group, predicts that basic unmanned aerial vehicles will soon become obsolete. Therefore, you will need to upgrade soon.
This will be a loss for some drone startups, but an opportunity for others. As his crude FPVs lose effectiveness, there is a growing demand for advanced systems designed by Buntar Aerospace and others.
money talk
Bunter is building a reconnaissance UAV that can fly 80km from an operational station. It is designed to withstand interference and uses a multi-rotary system for takeoff. It then switches to the aircraft's flight mode, reducing the risk of operator error.
This approach has caught the attention of investors. Buntar recently raised $1 million in the company's first seed round from an investor who wished to remain anonymous.
But such private funding remains rare for Ukrainian drone startups.
Before Ivan Kaunov launched Buntar last year, he already had a successful career in startups. The Kiev native is best known as the co-founder of Finmap, a cash flow management tool with over 2,500 clients in over 20 countries.
Through his work at Finmap, Mr. Kaunoff Sigma Software Lab, Ukrainian startup hub and investor. Like Kaunoff, his team at Sigma has also shown an increased interest in defensive technology.
“It's not just about weapons…This war is a technology war, and engineers will win,” Daria Yanieva, the company's investment director, told TNW.
Yanieva, who grew up in the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk, has a personal stake in Ukraine's defense technology success. The 27-year-old is also a strong advocate of the sector's business potential, although she admits that private financing is difficult. One of the barriers, she said, is that investment cycles are slower, and those cycles often span up to 10 years. Another concern is about support for military applications.
With major venture capital firms reluctant to splurge, governments need to fill the funding gap. In 2023, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine allocated approximately 20 billion Ukrainian hryvnia (476 million euros) for the purchase of drones. Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said that 58 Ukrainian drone manufacturers received state contracts last year.
Allies provided another important source of funding. It also has the potential to dramatically expand the market for domestic unmanned aircraft startups.From Rokotkov Skyassist urges acceptance of mutual benefits.
“Our experience in using military unmanned aerial vehicles during this war will be of great use to NATO,” he says.
For now, these military applications offer the most obvious route to market. But a world beyond war brings new commercial opportunities.
Ostasz already has big plans for the emerging dual-use sector.
“The time has come to start building a drone development factory,” he says. “It’s not just for military purposes.”
