Superior Navigation raises $108 million in Collection B funding led by KKR – sUAS Information – The Enterprise of Drones

SYDNEY – November, 2022 – Superior Navigation (the “Firm”), a developer of AI robotics and navigation expertise, and KKR, a number one world funding agency, right now introduced the signing of definitive agreements underneath which KKR will lead a AUD 108 million (USD 68 million) Collection B funding spherical within the Firm. The funding spherical contains participation from new traders comparable to deep studying enterprise agency AI Capital and present traders, together with Essential Sequence, the Hon. Malcolm Turnbull AC, In-Q-Tel, and Our Innovation Fund, bringing Superior Navigation’s whole quantity raised to greater than AUD 134 million (USD 85 million).

Headquartered in Australia, the Firm’s robotic and navigation options optimise efficiency and effectivity by leveraging AI neural networks and deep studying algorithms. Superior Navigation sensor merchandise are bought into industrial and defence industries spanning sea, land, air and area functions. The Firm’s AI strategy permits its options to have higher accuracy and reliability whereas sustaining a small type issue. As we speak, Superior Navigation’s options are adopted by a few of the world’s largest expertise corporations and defence prime contractors.

Superior Navigation appears to make use of the funding to speed up R&D packages targeted on transformative robotic, navigation, photonic, and quantum sensing options, and improve its world gross sales and advertising capabilities to achieve new clients. Superior Navigation may also assess inorganic development alternatives to include new applied sciences and merchandise into its suite which counterpoint the Firm’s present merchandise and areas of experience. 

Xavier Orr, CEO and Co-Founding father of Superior Navigation, mentioned, “We stay up for this subsequent part of development as we proceed to be a driving power within the autonomy revolution. KKR has important expertise investing in rising applied sciences, we’re thrilled to have them lead our Collection B funding spherical and work alongside our staff to advance our product and expertise innovation and growth. Our applied sciences will proceed to soundly and reliably information autonomous autos throughout hazardous environments. Along with our engineering specialists, companions, and in collaboration with world analysis institutes, we are going to work to construct a extra resilient, safe and sustainable future.”

Mukul Chawla, Companion and Head of Development Fairness, Asia Pacific for KKR, mentioned, “Superior Navigation has established itself as a number one innovator within the robotics sector by creating differentiated AI-enabled software program with a variety of functions. As demand for autonomous expertise continues to develop, we’re excited to collaborate with Xavier, Chris and the Superior Navigation staff. We see important alternative for the Firm to faucet into KKR’s world community, operational experience, and expertise in expertise investing to speed up the Firm’s efforts to broaden globally and construct out its platform. Superior Navigation marks our first expertise development funding in Australia, an vital marketplace for KKR total, and for our development fairness franchise and its devoted staff based mostly in Sydney.”

Louis Casey, KKR’s development expertise lead in Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia, mentioned, “Advances in autonomous navigation expertise that leverages AI to scale back sensor value whereas enhancing efficiency can quickly improve enterprise and client functions globally. We’re more than happy to work alongside the Superior Navigation staff to help the Firm’s development.”

As well as, Louis Casey and Vance Serchuk, Government Director of the KKR International Institute, will be part of Superior Navigation’s board of administrators. Normal David Petraeus (U.S. Military, Ret.), Companion, KKR and Chairman of the KKR International Institute, will chair a brand new advisory committee that targets to help the Firm’s world growth efforts. 

Normal Petraeus mentioned, “I stay up for chairing Superior Navigation’s Worldwide Advisory Board to assist introduce the Firm’s vital expertise to new markets and alternatives, together with within the aerospace, defence, and safety sectors.”

KKR makes its funding from its Asia Subsequent Era Expertise technique, which seeks to help the expansion of corporations within the Asia Pacific area that supply differentiated, expertise and technology-enabled options. Different investments from the technique embody Privy, a digital belief supplier in Indonesia; GrowSari, a business-to-business e-commerce platform serving small-and-medium enterprises (“SMEs”) within the Philippines; and KiotViet, a software program platform for SMEs in Vietnam; and dataX, a buyer relationship administration software program platform in Japan. Extra particulars of the transaction should not disclosed.

About Superior Navigation 

Superior Navigation was based in Sydney, Australia in 2012 by engineers Xavier Orr and Chris Shaw to commercialise college analysis on AI-based inertial navigation. Since 2012, the corporate has skilled nice success and has progressed into a number of deep and new expertise fields. This contains underwater acoustics, GNSS antennas and receivers, radio frequency techniques, inertial sensors, robotics, and quantum-enhanced inertial navigation.  

As we speak, Superior Navigation is a provider to a few of the greatest corporations on this planet, together with Airbus, Boeing, Google, Apple, and Normal Motors. Superior Navigation is headquartered in Sydney, Australia with a number of analysis services all through the nation and gross sales places of work all over the world. Superior Navigation is an Australian producer exporting globally whereas sustaining carbon-neutral operations. For extra data go to www.advancednavigation.com. 

About KKR

KKR is a number one world funding agency that gives different asset administration in addition to capital markets and insurance coverage options. KKR goals to generate engaging funding returns by following a affected person and disciplined funding strategy, using world-class individuals, and supporting development in its portfolio corporations and communities. KKR sponsors funding funds that put money into personal fairness, credit score and actual property and has strategic companions that handle hedge funds. KKR’s insurance coverage subsidiaries supply retirement, life and reinsurance merchandise underneath the administration of International Atlantic Monetary Group. References to KKR’s investments could embody the actions of its sponsored funds and insurance coverage subsidiaries. For extra details about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please go to KKR’s web site at www.kkr.com and on Twitter @KKR_Co.