Kyiv-based AI startup The Fourth Law has secured funding from Axon and BRAVE1 to accelerate R&D of advanced autonomy technologies.
- Founded in 2024 by Yaroslav Azhnyuk, The Fourth Law develops AI-powered autonomy software for unmanned vehicles. Its systems allow drones, missiles, and robotic platforms to operate independently in GPS-denied environments and under electronic warfare conditions.
- The company provides modules for terminal guidance, cruise navigation, target selection, and fleet management. These tools can be integrated into both TFL’s own drones, such as the Lupynis-10-TFL-1, and third-party hardware, enabling precise target engagement and coordinated operations.
- TFL also produces simulation and analytics software to plan missions and monitor multiple autonomous vehicles simultaneously. Current projects include full autonomy for navigation, bombing, and defensive intercept operations, combining frontline testing with scalable software solutions for high-risk scenarios.
Details of the deal
- The investment round was supported by Axon, the American public safety technology company, and BRAVE1, which facilitated introductions and helped guide the process. Specifically, BRAVE1 connected Rick Smith, Founder and CEO of Axon, with Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s Minister of Defence, helping to make the deal happen.
“We are investing because the world can learn from how drones are developed and deployed in Ukraine, and we believe that through the work of companies like The Fourth Law, even more world-class solutions will emerge,” claims Rick Smith, Founder and CEO of Axon.
- The investment will focus on expanding The Fourth Law’s engineering team and advancing autonomous technologies. Efforts will include creating systems to detect and counter aerial threats, as well as developing tools that safeguard critical infrastructure and urban areas.
