OPPND backs BabAI and RightSpot.AI, two drone navigation startups

Ukrainian-American investment fund OPPND (formerly Oppenheimer Acceleration Fund) has added two new defence tech startups to its portfolio. According to Scroll Media, the fund has invested in BabAI and RightSpot.AI, both of which are developing advanced protection and navigation technologies for combat and reconnaissance drones.

BabAI is building an AI-powered active defence system to protect reconnaissance drones from FPV attacks. The system has already undergone combat testing and is integrated with two leading drone manufacturers and a laser turret system. According to the company, BabAI enables autonomous evasive manoeuvres, significantly increasing drone survivability on the battlefield.

RightSpot.AI is pioneering GPS-free navigation for drones, missiles, and autonomous vehicles. Its multimodal navigation platform provides reliable positioning in GPS-denied environments, even through clouds and at night. Demand for RBASE, the startup’s flagship product, has already exceeded 1,000 units per month, according to the publication.

OPPND specialises in early-stage defence tech investments. It offers startups $125K in funding—$25K during the preparation phase and an additional $100K during its accelerator program. In total, the accelerator plans to invest $2 million in startups from its first cohort.

In February 2025, Defender Media reported that OPPND Fund had also backed PanoptesAI and Sierra Turbines, further expanding its footprint in the defence tech space.