Latvian defense tech startup Origin has secured a new €4.5M grant from the European Defence Fund to develop a man-portable ISTAR drone with laser target designation. The project will bring together teams from Latvia, Lithuania, and Germany, driving EU’s defense innovation forward. The startup shared the details with AIN.

About Origin

  • Origin is a Riga-based defense technology startup specializing in advanced autonomous systems. The startup was founded in 2022 by Agris Kipurs and Ilya Nevdahs following russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

  • Origin leverages a decade of experience from the founders’ previous successful exit from action sports drone Airdog, aiming to provide democracies with affordable, effective defense technology.

  • Its flagship product BEAK is a man-portable ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) drone that offers precision strike capabilities at a lower cost than traditional systems by keeping its key components on a reusable carrier vehicle. Utilizing advanced computer-vision algorithms and AI, the BEAK can autonomously navigate complex environments and counter threats even under intense radio jamming.

Investment details

The €4.5 million grant from European Defense Fund will fund a collaborative MPortISTAR project, which involves partners from Lithuania (Aktyvus Photonics UAB) and Germany (Leosys Laser and Electro-Optic Systems GmbH), and is supported by the European Commission and the defense ministries of Latvia, Lithuania, and Germany. 

  • MPortISTAR is part of a broader push for technological self-reliance across the European Union, reducing the EU’s dependence on imported products. 

"The European defence landscape increasingly relies on adaptable, affordable technologies that enhance operational capabilities. At Origin, we are encouraged that the European Defence Fund recognises the necessity of strengthening the defensive capacities of small and mid-sized nations in a cost-effective way. Our MPortISTAR project directly addresses this need, ensuring that countries like Latvia can meet modern security challenges more effectively," Agris Kipurs, co-founder of Origin, said.

  • This mini (less than 15 kg), man-portable vertical take-off UAV will integrate a laser target designator and power consumption (SWaP), see-spot camera, gimbal, and the UAV itself compatible with standard NATO laser-guided precision munitions.

  • Key focuses for the project are cost effectiveness (estimated to be one fifth the cost of current technologies) and reducing the need for forward-deployed troops, thereby minimizing risks of casualties.

The grant follows Origin's €4 million pre-seed investment announced in October 2024. The round included equity investments from Change Ventures and Silicon Roundabout Ventures, as well as €1.7 million in previous EU grants. The current deal bring the total amount of funding secured by Origin to €8.5 million.