VIZGARD
VIZGARD builds edge-based AI software (FortifAI) that transforms defence and security cameras, drones, and uncrewed vessels into autonomous systems, serving UK and allied government agencies, defence primes, and security OEMs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What VIZGARD does
Vizgard is a UK-based edge AI software company that builds visual autonomy technology for defence and security cameras, drones, and uncrewed surface vessels. Founded in 2021 by former Royal Navy submariner Alex Kehoe, the company develops the FortifAI platform — a TRL 9 visual autonomy stack that runs on NVIDIA Jetson and Orin edge processors, processes visible and thermal video feeds, fuses them with radar and RF tracks, and enables autonomous camera and vehicle control without reliance on internet or GNSS. Its three-product portfolio (FortifAI core software, UnifAI MLOps for fleet lifecycle management, and VizEdge rugged wearable AI hardware) targets defence primes, UK and allied government agencies, security OEMs, and critical infrastructure operators in the UK, USA, Ukraine, and across NATO.
The company monetises primarily through annual per-stream software licensing of FortifAI (minimum two streams, with volume enterprise tiers for 10+ streams including white-labelling and trained model file access), supplemented by direct government and defence contracts (UK MoD, Home Office, HMGCC, Innovate UK consortium work) and channel sales through partners such as Parrot, Coptrz, and Altitude Angel. Customer segments span Defence and Military (MoD, NATO users, defence primes), Government and Law Enforcement (Home Office, police departments, prison security), Security Technology Companies (BAE Systems, Parrot, Sesanti, Infiniti Electro-Optics, Altitude Angel), and Critical Infrastructure Operators (airport, transport, coastal facilities).
Vizgard closed a £1.5 million oversubscribed seed round in January 2025 led by Sure Valley Ventures and is positioning for Series A through the KPMG Future of Tech Access Programme. Strategic milestones in 2025–2026 include selection for NATO's DIANA accelerator (from ~4,000 applicants), participation in the BAE Systems Counter-UXV challenge, full plug-and-play integration with Parrot's ANAFI UKR drone, and placement in the SCEPTRE consortium on the UK's Digital Decision Accelerators for Defence framework, underscoring a deliberate strategy to convert sovereign UK defence credibility into scaled international revenue.
VIZGARD firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- VIZGARD
- Legal name
- Vizgard Ltd
- Website
- https://vizgard.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- VIZGARD builds edge-based AI software (FortifAI) that transforms defence and security cameras, drones, and uncrewed vessels into autonomous systems, serving UK and allied government agencies, defence primes, and security OEMs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
VIZGARD industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Defence and Security Computer Vision Software
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (3341)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Real-Time Vision at the Edge (on-device CV/video) (HDAAAJAE), Autonomous Defense Systems (AI/ML, Swarming, MUM-T) (IMABAOAI), Video Analytics & AI Security Solutions Integration (LPR, Facial, Behavior) (BPAKAGAK), Maritime Security Technology & Systems (CCTV, Radar, AIS, Perimeter Sensors) (BPAKALAI), AI Inference Hardware & Edge Accelerators (HDAAAAAC)
Keywords
Where VIZGARD is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
VIZGARD business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Operations
Revenue model
- FortifAI Software Licensing: FortifAI is licensed per video stream per year with a minimum of two streams. Licences are tied to the hardware ID of each Jetson or x86 device. Enterprise plans available for deployments with 10 or more streams with reduced per-stream pricing, white-labelling options, and access to trained model files. Licences stored locally enabling operation without internet access.
- Government and Defence Contracts: Vizgard generates revenue through contracts with UK Ministry of Defence, Home Office, HMGCC Co-Creation, and leading defence technology companies. Notable contracts include knife-detection solution development, counter-drone operations, and participation in £12 million Innovate UK consortium.
- SaaS Revenues: Mindflair plc reported that Vizgard achieved growth in SaaS revenues in 2025 with global deployment of its FortifAI product. The company reports operational deployments across multiple domains including UK, USA, and NATO users.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard licensing - per video stream annually with minimum two-stream requirement |
| Subscription | Annual | Enterprise licensing - 10+ stream deployments with volume pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
VIZGARD product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vizgard develops and licenses edge-based visual AI software that automates defence and security cameras, drones, and uncrewed platforms. Its core product FortifAI delivers real-time threat detection, sensor fusion, and autonomous camera/vehicle control. Supporting offerings include the UnifAI MLOps platform for managing distributed AI fleets and the VizEdge rugged wearable AI hardware for frontline edge deployment in communication-denied environments.
Product overview
Vizgard offers a three-product visual autonomy platform: FortifAI (core TRL 9 software platform for real-time visual AI, threat detection, and autonomous camera/vehicle control), UnifAI (MLOps add-on for fleet management, model deployment, and continuous improvement), and VizEdge (rugged wearable hardware enabling edge AI deployment in the field). The products integrate to deliver platform-agnostic AI that transforms defence and security cameras into autonomous teammates.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- FortifAI TRL 9 visual autonomy software platform that delivers real-time threat analysis, sensor fusion, and autonomous control for defence and security cameras and uncrewed platforms. Processes EO/IR video feeds to detect, classify, and track threats; fuses data with radar and RF; supports autonomous follow/evade behaviour; runs on NVIDIA Jetson and x86 edge devices. Licensed per video stream per year for defence primes, government agencies, and security integrators.
- UnifAI Turnkey MLOps platform providing real-time oversight and full lifecycle management for distributed AI systems at scale. Manages dataset aggregation, device monitoring, and model deployment across fleets of AI-enabled assets, closing the loop between edge and cloud for continuous improvement. Built with encryption, GDPR compliance, and zero-trust principles, supporting automated anonymisation workflows.
- VizEdge Rugged, wearable AI hardware platform built for frontline use in communication-denied environments. IP67-rated, British-designed and manufactured, with an NVIDIA Orin processor delivering up to 157 TOPS of AI performance. Open architecture supports third-party models and ATAK integration, with quick-release MOLLE mounting compatible with Nett Warrior power systems. Designed to operate alongside Parrot Anafi USA/UKR quadcopters for field-deployable visual AI.
Quantifiable outcome
- Saves estimated £3.5M over 3 years compared to building in-house, delivers capability 50x faster
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use VIZGARD
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
VIZGARD technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
AI capability8 records
Feature8 records
VIZGARD partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- SCEPTRE ConsortiumcoreVizgard is part of SCEPTRE consortium with Hadean, 2iC, ACUA Ocean, Kraken, and Evolve Dynamics. The consortium has been down-selected onto UK's Digital Decision Accelerators for Defence framework, positioning for both civil offshore applications and naval missions including ISR, anti-submarine warfare, and Sentinel concept for protecting UK critical maritime infrastructure.
- NATO DIANAflagshipVizgard was selected for NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) programme from nearly 4,000 applicants as one of 150 companies globally. The six-month accelerator offers potential investment of up to €100,000 and provides direct access to NATO procurement through its Rapid Adoption Service without requiring competitive tender processes.
- KPMGminorSelected for KPMG's Future of Tech Access Programme, a flagship initiative supporting UK's most promising technology scale-ups preparing for Series A investment. Four-month initiative providing tailored support in corporate finance, governance, and scaling strategy from KPMG specialists and external venture partners.
- BAE SystemscoreSelected for 2025 Innovate UK iX Defence and Security Market Opportunities programme delivered in partnership with BAE Systems. Progressing through Counter Multi-Domain Uncrewed Vehicles and Vessels (C-UXV) challenge focusing on detecting, tracking, and responding to uncrewed threats across air, land, and sea.
- ParrotcoreSolution partner with early access to Parrot ANAFI UKR battlefield-proven system. Vizgard tested, integrated, and optimised FortifAI for full plug-and-play compatibility with both UKR and previous-generation USA platform. VizEdge plug-and-play compatible with Parrot Anafi USA/UKR quadcopters.
- CoptrzcoreUK-based defence and public safety drone distributor. Quote indicates Vizgard helped Coptrz win a bid with proactive support. VizEdge performed well in trials as a UK-made rugged AI solution for police and military field use.
- Altitude AngelcoreVizgard part of £12 million Innovate UK consortium led by Altitude Angel, developing 165-mile drone superhighway. Vizgard's FortifAI integrated into comprehensive surveillance airspace picture within Skyway consortium for unmanned traffic management.
- Evolve DynamicsminorPart of SCEPTRE consortium working on uncrewed surface vessels and maritime autonomous systems.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
VIZGARD competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Anduril Industries: US-headquartered defence technology prime building AI-enabled autonomous systems (Lattice OS, Ghost, Roadrunner, Dive-LD). Competes with Vizgard in autonomous surveillance, counter-UAS, and edge AI for defence, but at vastly greater scale and capitalisation and across a broader portfolio.
- Ultra Electronics: UK-listed defence electronics specialist (now part of Cobham) providing maritime, communications, and EO/IR systems. Named Vizgard customer/partner; competes in long-range maritime surveillance and integrated camera/sensor solutions.
- Palantir Technologies: US-listed data integration and AI platform with deep UK MoD and US defence relationships (Gotham, Foundry, AIP). Overlaps Vizgard's threat-detection and decision-support workflows but at enterprise scale across C2, intelligence, and operational planning.
- BAE Systems: UK-headquartered global defence prime, partner to Vizgard through the Innovate UK Counter-UXV challenge. Comparable mission set in autonomous and counter-UxV systems, with infinitely greater resources and incumbency advantages.
Direct peers
- DroneShield: Listed Australian counter-UAS / counter-drone specialist providing AI-enabled RF, radar, and camera-based drone detection. Comparable to Vizgard in the C-UxV mission area and integration with EO/IR cameras for threat classification.
- Shield AI: US defence-AI company developing autonomous piloting (Hivemind) and AI-enabled drones (V-BAT). Closely comparable to Vizgard in the drone autonomy and AI-pilot-assist mission space, with much greater funding and deployment scale.
- Helsing: European (UK/German/French) AI-for-defence company building AI software for autonomous systems and situational awareness, with strong sovereign positioning and significant government contracts. Most directly comparable European peer to Vizgard's edge-AI autonomy stack and sovereign narrative.
- Dedrone: US-based counter-UAS software platform combining RF, radar, and camera sensors with AI-driven drone detection and tracking. Direct overlap with Vizgard's FortifAI counter-drone, sensor-fusion, and multi-modal threat-detection capabilities.
Emerging players
- Skydio: US autonomous drone manufacturer with on-board AI for obstacle avoidance and situational awareness. Comparable edge-AI and autonomy IP, primarily competing on the airframe/platform layer rather than as a software integrator like Vizgard.
- Oxford Dynamics: UK-based AI-for-defence SME applying machine learning to autonomous systems and surveillance. Closest UK-headquartered peer in scale and customer set, sharing Vizgard's positioning as a UK sovereign AI supplier to MoD and allies.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
VIZGARD social profiles
Digital presenceVIZGARD compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
VIZGARD financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
VIZGARD leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
VIZGARD funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
VIZGARD M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about VIZGARD
What does VIZGARD do?
Vizgard develops and licenses edge-based visual AI software that automates defence and security cameras, drones, and uncrewed platforms. Its core product FortifAI delivers real-time threat detection, sensor fusion, and autonomous camera/vehicle control. Supporting offerings include the UnifAI MLOps platform for managing distributed AI fleets and the VizEdge rugged wearable AI hardware for frontline edge deployment in communication-denied environments.
Is VIZGARD a public or private company?
VIZGARD is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was VIZGARD founded?
VIZGARD was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is VIZGARD based?
VIZGARD is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does VIZGARD make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. FortifAI Software Licensing is the primary driver. The others are government and Defence Contracts and saaS Revenues.
Who are VIZGARD's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Anduril Industries, Ultra Electronics, Palantir Technologies and BAE Systems. Direct peers are DroneShield, Shield AI, Helsing and Dedrone. Emerging players are Skydio and Oxford Dynamics.
Does VIZGARD have an API?
No public API is recorded for VIZGARD.
What industry is VIZGARD in?
VIZGARD's product category is Defence and Security Computer Vision Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAIAH, Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV), with a secondary code of HDAAAJAE, Real-Time Vision at the Edge (on-device CV/video). Its NAICS code is 541512 and its SIC code is 3812.