EpiSci
EpiSci was a Poway, California-based defense AI company developing Tactical AI autonomy software for uncrewed military platforms, primarily serving the U.S. Department of Defense. Its technology supported Pentagon programs including the first autonomous F-16 versus X-62A VISTA dogfights before its October 2024 acquisition by Applied Intuition.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersPoway, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What EpiSci does
EpiSci was a Poway, California-based defense technology company founded in 2012 (originally as EpiSys Science Inc.) that developed Tactical AI for hardware-agnostic, rapidly portable autonomy on uncrewed military platforms across air, land, and multi-domain operations. Its core technology was autonomy software for uncrewed systems, battle management, and air combat, with its most notable validation being support for the first-ever AI-versus-human dogfights between an F-16 and the X-62A VISTA experimental fighter jet conducted under U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School programs.
EpiSci's go-to-market was enterprise field sales into the U.S. Department of Defense and allied militaries, executed through direct engagement with defense primes and government procurement channels. The company raised a Pre-Series A round in mid-2023 with strategic investments from Decisive Point, Lockheed Martin Ventures, RTX Ventures, and Top Aces — investors that simultaneously functioned as distribution, talent, and data partners rather than purely financial backers. Its revenue mechanics relied on defense software contracts and government procurement with recurring programmatic engagements, though no public pricing or contract values were disclosed.
In October 2024 (publicly announced February 2025), EpiSci was acquired by Applied Intuition, a vehicle-intelligence software company that had previously focused on land autonomy. The acquisition extended Applied Intuition's product portfolio into air, sea, and space domains via the Axion toolchain and Acuity onboard software layer, and positioned the combined entity to participate in flagship DoD programs including the Replicator initiative and Golden Dome. EpiSci now operates as part of Applied Intuition Government, Inc., and its technology has been integrated into broader all-domain autonomy offerings.
EpiSci firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- EpiSci
- Website
- https://episci.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- EpiSci was a Poway, California-based defense AI company developing Tactical AI autonomy software for uncrewed military platforms, primarily serving the U.S. Department of Defense. Its technology supported Pentagon programs including the first autonomous F-16 versus X-62A VISTA dogfights before its October 2024 acquisition by Applied Intuition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
EpiSci industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Defense Autonomy Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132), Computer Systems Design Services (541512)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Autonomous Defense Systems (AI/ML, Swarming, MUM-T) (IMABAOAI), Aerial Robotics (Drones & UAV Autonomy) (HDAAAIAG)
Keywords
Where EpiSci is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Poway
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
EpiSci business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Defense AI/Autonomy Software: EpiSci generates revenue through development and deployment of tactical AI and autonomy software for military applications. The company operates in the defense technology sector targeting Pentagon programs and defense contractor partnerships.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
EpiSci product offering
Product offeringCore offering
EpiSci develops Tactical AI-based, hardware-agnostic, and rapidly portable autonomy software for unmanned/uncrewed UxV (unmanned ground, air, and multi-domain) platforms. Its mission-critical autonomy solutions are used by the U.S. Department of Defense and defense contractors for applications including uncrewed systems, battle management, and air combat autonomy (e.g., the F-16 vs. X-62A VISTA dogfight demonstrations).
Product overview
EpiSci was a defense autonomy software company specializing in Tactical AI technology for military platforms. The company developed mission-critical autonomy software for national security applications, including uncrewed systems and battle management. EpiSci's technology supported Pentagon programs, notably integrating AI with military platforms including the first-ever dogfights between an F-16 and the X-62A VISTA experimental fighter jet. EpiSci operated as a single-product technology company focused on AI and autonomy software before being acquired by Applied Intuition in October 2024 to enhance Applied Intuition's defense offerings across all domains (land, air, sea, space).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Tactical AI Autonomy Software Hardware-agnostic, rapidly portable Tactical AI autonomy software that enables autonomous operations for unmanned/uncrewed military platforms (air, land, and multi-domain), supporting use cases such as uncrewed systems and battle management for the U.S. Department of Defense and defense contractors.
Quantifiable outcome
- Supported first-ever dogfights between F-16 and X-62A VISTA experimental fighter jet
Companies that use EpiSci
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
EpiSci technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
EpiSci partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Applied IntuitionflagshipApplied Intuition acquired EpiSci in October 2024 to strengthen its all-domain defense autonomy capabilities and expand beyond land autonomy into air, sea, and space domains. The acquisition positioned Applied Intuition to capture growth from the Pentagon's Replicator initiative to field thousands of low-cost expendable drones. EpiSci develops mission-critical autonomy software used in military applications including uncrewed systems and battle management.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
EpiSci competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Shield AI: Shield AI builds Hivemind, an autonomy software stack for defense UAS (e.g., V-BAT), making it a direct competitor to EpiSci's Tactical AI in military unmanned aerial autonomy and DoD program pursuits.
- Anduril Industries: Anduril's Lattice software platform and autonomy-enabled systems (Roadrunner, Bolt, Ghost) compete head-to-head with EpiSci in DoD software-defined autonomy and multi-domain uncrewed programs.
- Skydio: Skydio supplies autonomous drones (and onboard autonomy) to the DoD, public safety, and critical infrastructure — a direct peer in defense/commercial autonomous flight software and airframe integration.
- Kratos Defense & Security Solutions: Kratos produces tactical unmanned systems (XQ-58 Valkyrie, MQM-178 Firejet) and autonomy for DoD, making it a direct peer in low-cost attritable autonomous airframes and related autonomy software.
Broad incumbents
- Palantir Technologies: Palantir's AIP and Gotham platforms are foundational DoD software for command/control and AI-enabled decisioning, competing for the same DoD autonomy and battle-management software dollars as EpiSci at much larger scale.
- Lockheed Martin: Lockheed Martin is a strategic investor in EpiSci and a top DoD prime, with internal autonomy efforts (Sikorsky, Skunk Works) that overlap with EpiSci's Tactical AI for military platforms.
- RTX (Raytheon): RTX invested via RTX Ventures and competes in defense autonomy (missiles, sensors, command-and-control), making it both a strategic backer and a broad incumbent peer to EpiSci.
- Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman develops autonomous platforms (MQ-4C Triton, X-47B) and battle-management software, putting it in direct competition for DoD autonomy contracts that EpiSci/Applied Intuition are pursuing.
Emerging players
- Forterra: Forterra builds autonomy software for defense ground vehicles and has expanded into aerial/maritime autonomy, overlapping with EpiSci's hardware-agnostic, multi-domain autonomy thesis post-Applied Intuition.
- Ghost Robotics: Ghost Robotics develops autonomous ground vehicles (Vision 60, SPN) for DoD, adjacent to EpiSci's land-domain autonomy work and a likely partner/competitor in UGV program pursuits.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
EpiSci social profiles
Digital presenceEpiSci financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
EpiSci leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
EpiSci funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
EpiSci 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 EpiSci
What does EpiSci do?
EpiSci develops Tactical AI-based, hardware-agnostic, and rapidly portable autonomy software for unmanned/uncrewed UxV (unmanned ground, air, and multi-domain) platforms. Its mission-critical autonomy solutions are used by the U.S. Department of Defense and defense contractors for applications including uncrewed systems, battle management, and air combat autonomy (e.g., the F-16 vs. X-62A VISTA dogfight demonstrations).
Is EpiSci a public or private company?
EpiSci is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was EpiSci founded?
EpiSci was founded in 2012. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is EpiSci based?
EpiSci is headquartered in Poway, United States, in the North America region.
How does EpiSci make money?
One revenue line is on record: defense AI/Autonomy Software.
Who are EpiSci's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Shield AI, Anduril Industries, Skydio and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions. Broad incumbents are Palantir Technologies, Lockheed Martin, RTX (Raytheon) and Northrop Grumman. Emerging players are Forterra and Ghost Robotics.
Does EpiSci have an API?
No public API is recorded for EpiSci.
What industry is EpiSci in?
EpiSci's product category is Defense Autonomy Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAIAH, Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV), with a secondary code of IMABAOAI, Autonomous Defense Systems (AI/ML, Swarming, MUM-T). Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7372.