Vizgard, a London-based AI firm specializing in real-time threat detection, has raised £1.5m in an oversubscribed funding round.
Alex Kehoe, a former Royal Navy submariner, founded the company in early 2021. Vizgard raised the funds to scale operations and position itself as a global leader in AI vision automation. The company aims to fill critical gaps in camera-based defence and public safety systems.
Sure Valley Ventures (SVV) led the funding round, with additional contributions from Midwich Ignite and Focal.
Kehoe said: “The UK has all the ingredients to lead the world in defence AI, but the pace of transitioning from Proof of Concept to deployment is lagging.
“We’re excited to welcome our new investors onboard who are aligned with our mission to fully automate the cameras that protect us, while maintaining public privacy.”
The company’s FortifAI platform uses low-power, commercially available processors to improve security cameras, counter-drone systems, and unmanned vehicles. It provides precise, real-time threat detection and automatic camera control, reducing operator workload significantly.
Vizgard has already secured contracts with the Ministry of Defence, HMGCC Co-Creation, leading defence technology companies, and a major UK transport organization. Customers include Sesanti, a British camera manufacturer, and several national police departments.
“From the beginning, we focused on developing AI that could deliver the most immediate impact – operating at the edge, within or near moving cameras,” Kehoe said.
“Whether on land, in the air, or at sea, this approach ensures systems can react faster, act independently if GPS or communication is lost, and even act collaboratively to provide more actionable feedback.”
The firm also currently participates in a £12m Innovate UK consortium, led by Altitude Angel, to create a 165-mile drone superhighway. Additionally, the UK Home Office recently awarded Vizgard a notable and timely contract to develop a portable knife-detection solution powered by FortifAI.