Israeli Drone Startup Heven Achieves $1 Billion Valuation in $100 Million IonQ-led Round
Israeli Drone Startup Heven Achieves $1 Billion Valuation in $100 Million IonQ-led Round
Israeli drone innovator Heven AeroTech has joined the elite ranks of unicorn startups, reaching a valuation exceeding $1 billion. This milestone comes as the company secured a $100 million fundraising round led by the American quantum computing firm IonQ. The investment, which was disclosed in a post by Lauren Eboni of Texas Venture Partners, marks Heven as "Israel’s first defensetech unicorn."
Quantum Partnership to Advance Drone Technology
The collaboration between Heven AeroTech and IonQ goes far beyond financial backing. Under a newly signed cooperation agreement, IonQ aims to integrate advanced quantum technologies - including sensing, communication, navigation, and security systems - into Heven’s cutting-edge drones. These quantum solutions are designed to help the drones operate with precision and stability even in environments with heavy electronic interference, a critical feature for defence and security applications.
In a move signalling the depth of the partnership, Jordan Shapiro, President and General Manager of Quantum Networking, Sensing & Security at IonQ, has been appointed to Heven’s board of directors. Shapiro’s involvement highlights the operational and strategic significance of the companies' collaboration.
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Pioneering Hydrogen-Powered Drones
Founded in 2019 by Bentzion Levinson, Heven AeroTech specialises in drones powered by hydrogen, allowing for long-range flights and high payload capacities. The company’s merger with Zepher Flight Labs enabled it to establish a U.S. headquarters and pivot its focus towards the American defence market. This move reflects Heven’s intent to cater to global militaries searching for reliable platforms that can endure electronic warfare conditions.
The infusion of quantum technologies from IonQ could further bolster Heven’s competitive edge in what is becoming an increasingly contested technological arena.
IonQ’s Growing Presence in Israel
IonQ, a Nasdaq-listed company valued at approximately $17 billion, has been making significant inroads into Israel's high-tech and defence sectors. The investment in Heven AeroTech is part of a broader strategy: earlier in the month, IonQ also participated in a $30 million funding round for Israeli quantum software company Classiq. These investments underscore the company’s ambition to create a comprehensive quantum technology stack spanning hardware, sensing, and enterprise software for both commercial and defence applications.
With longstanding ties to major U.S. defence agencies such as DARPA, the Department of Defense, and the Air Force, IonQ is leveraging its expertise in quantum computing and sensing to push these technologies out of research labs and into real-world applications.
A Strategic Leap for Defence Technology
The partnership between Heven AeroTech and IonQ represents a major step forward for defence-focused drone technology. By combining Heven’s hydrogen-powered drones with IonQ’s quantum innovations, the collaboration aims to provide solutions for one of the most pressing challenges facing modern militaries: ensuring operational reliability in contested and electronically saturated environments.
As Heven AeroTech continues to build its presence in the U.S. defence market, the integration of quantum capabilities may position the company as a leader in next-generation drone technology. With IonQ’s support, Heven appears poised to redefine the possibilities for drones in defence and security contexts.