Defense Tech Startup Aventra Emerges from Stealth with $3M Seed Round to Transform Unguided Munitions into Long-Range Precision Weapons

Lavrock Ventures leads funding for modular guidance technology that delivers GPS-independent strikes at ultra-low cost

HERNDON, Va., Oct. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aventra, a defense technology startup developing low-cost glide and guidance systems for ultra long-range precision strikes, today announced its emergence from stealth mode with $3 million in seed funding led by Lavrock Ventures. Founded by former Army officers and defense tech entrepreneurs Michael Weigand, Brian Retherford, and Jessup Meng, the company's modular guidance kits transform standard unguided munitions into AI-powered precision weapons capable of engaging targets as far away as 3000 miles, addressing America's critical need for affordable mass fires in peer adversary conflicts.

Aventra's breakthrough technology wraps a wing and guidance system around existing munitions to create long-range weapons that harness high-altitude winds, traveling extended distances via high-altitude balloons without relying on GPS navigation. The company's Piranha glider kit costs 100-400 times less than comparable long-range precision munitions, enabling the volume of sustained fires necessary for modern warfare while operating effectively in contested, electronic warfare environments.

The timing aligns with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's directive "Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance," which called for rapidly scaling domestic drone production and emphasized that "our adversaries collectively produce millions of cheap drones each year" while criticizing previous delays in fielding affordable systems to U.S. forces.

The modular design accepts both kinetic warheads and non-kinetic payloads including electronic warfare packages, allowing forces to conduct precision strikes, harassment fires, and multi-domain operations from distributed positions. This capability addresses a fundamental military challenge: traditional cruise missile inventories would be exhausted within days of sustained peer conflict, leaving forces without the persistent fires needed to deny adversaries use of critical infrastructure.

"The U.S. government has made clear the urgent need for affordable, rapidly deployable weapons that can operate in contested and degraded environments," said Michael Weigand, Aventra Co-founder and CEO. "Our extensive firsthand experience working with operators both domestically and directly on the front lines in Ukraine has validated this demand signal. We've seen how conflicts are won through speed, volume, and persistence, and our technology finally makes that economically viable for American forces."

The founding team brings deep operational experience from both successful technology ventures and direct warfighting expertise. Their collective background spans leading defense startups, hands-on combat operations, and developing innovative solutions for modern warfare requirements – providing the technical depth and operational understanding essential for delivering mission-critical capabilities to military customers.

"What immediately stood out about Mike, Brian, and Jessup was the rare combination of proven startup leadership, extensive warfighting experience, and exceptional technical capabilities. These guys are not amateurs – they're proven leaders," said Alex Poulin, Partner at Lavrock Ventures. "They understand both the battlefield realities driving demand for distributed fires and the engineering challenges of delivering reliable, cost-effective solutions at scale. Their depth of experience across operations and technology makes them uniquely positioned to solve one of defense's most pressing problems."

Aventra's AI-powered terminal guidance operates independently of GPS, ensuring effectiveness against sophisticated adversaries employing electronic warfare. The system's high-altitude deployment provides unique attack vectors that circumvent traditional air defense detection and interception, while simple assembly and deployment enable distributed operations from austere environments without heavy infrastructure requirements.

The seed funding will accelerate product development, expand testing operations, and grow the team as Aventra prepares to deliver its transformative guidance technology to defense customers facing evolving warfare requirements.

About Aventra

Aventra develops low cost, long range modular guidance kits that transform unguided munitions into guided weapons deployable on a global scale. The company's AI-powered systems enable precision strikes and sustained harassment fires at a fraction of traditional costs, supporting America's military through innovative guidance technology and deep operational understanding of modern warfare requirements. For more information, visit aventra.io.

About Lavrock Ventures 

Lavrock Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on investing in software, deep tech, and national security companies. The firm partners with entrepreneurs developing transformative capabilities that address critical challenges across commercial and defense markets while strengthening America's security and technological leadership. For more information, visit lavrockvc.com/.

SOURCE Aventra