18.06.2025
2 min
818
Spotify founder Daniel Eck has invested €600 million in German defense startup Helsing, which is already supplying Ukraine with drones with artificial intelligence elements. His company Prima Materia has increased its total investment in Helsing to €1.37 billion.
The deal was reported by the *Financial Times*. Helsing is a defense AI startup that develops innovative drones and autonomous control systems for military needs. According to Daniel Eck, the new battlefield is defined by AI, autonomy and the scale of technology. The company is already fulfilling orders for Ukraine, and also works with the governments of Germany, Sweden and the UK. Its market capitalization is currently estimated at €12 billion, and in terms of growth rates it is among the top 5 most dynamic companies in Europe. Helsing is preparing to go public, which will make the company’s financial structure transparent to investors from different countries.
Prima Materia was founded by Daniel Eck in 2021 with Spotify’s first investor, Shakil Khan. The initial investment in the defense sector has drawn criticism from Spotify users over ethical issues. However, Eck said he was not worried about the boycotts and was completely confident in the correctness of his decision for the security of Europe. Helsing was already mentioned in 2024 as one of the companies supporting the Ukrainian drone sector. Now it is officially among the main suppliers of advanced military AI solutions.
Big capital is beginning to actively influence the formation of European defense capabilities. Daniel Eck’s investment is not only a gesture of support for Ukraine, but also a strategic investment in the future of AI warfare. Ukraine receives not only funding, but also access to advanced military developments. Helsing is becoming a symbol of a new format of war, where IT and defense merge into a single front.
