Black Forest Systems raises $400,000. Here’s what drones the startup is building

Ukrainian-Estonian drone tech startup Black Forest Systems (BFS) has raised $400,000 from Swedish investment firms Front Ventures and Hede Capital Partners. BFS founder and CEO Oleksandr Davydenko and Front Ventures’ CEO Jonas Malmgren shared the details with Defender Media.

Black Forest Systems, founded in 2024, is building infantry-first unmanned systems designed for real battlefield conditions. Their solutions combine proprietary electronics, secure communications, and control software into vertically integrated platforms that prioritise simplicity, safety, and rapid deployment.

The systems are designed so that even soldiers without drone-piloting experience can operate them effectively with minimal training. “Our mission is to shift complexity from the operator to the technology itself,” says Oleksandr Davydenko, CEO of BFS. “We build systems that simplify decision-making and give every infantryman access to advanced unmanned capabilities.”

Its flagship system, SHADOX, is a compact reconnaissance complex designed for rapid deployment and effective operations at close range. Its protected-propeller design allows operations inside buildings and trenches. The system features self-stabilisation and does not require FPV piloting skills. User training takes less than 30 minutes, according to the developers.

A proprietary remote control unit is included. The system is built with encrypted, low-profile communications designed to operate in EW-contested environments, the company says.

The investment round will allow BFS to industrialise SHADOX, from engineering refinement to
production readiness and structured military deployment, says the company’s CTO, Alex Winter.

In a comment to Defender Media, Oleksandr Davydenko said Black Forest Systems plans to produce several thousand SHADOX drones in 2026. According to him, special forces units are already awaiting the system.

Front Ventures CEO Jonas Malmgren says Black Forest Systems represents a new generation of systems designed for infantry and special forces, in which autonomy, simplicity, and rapid deployment play a key role. He sees strong structural growth drivers in this segment.

“I like that this is a low-complexity drone designed specifically for frontline infantry. It can be operated directly by any soldier, without having to wait for support from an FPV drone pilot, who is usually positioned several kilometres behind the frontline,” the investor said. “Another advantage is the compact design with protected propellers: the drone can withstand occasional hits against bushes, walls or trees without going down.”

Front Ventures and Hede Capital Partners already have investments in Ukrainian startups in their portfolios. In autumn 2025, they invested in Sky Hunter, a startup that automates the targeting of combat UAVs using real-time radar data.

In December 2025, Front Ventures also announced an investment in the Ukrainian project Aeromotors.

Overall, in 2026 the Swedish investment firm plans to invest $2–4 million in Ukrainian defence startups. Front Ventures is particularly interested in projects in ground robotic systems, drone components, software, payload manufacturing and specialised drones.