TERN Secures $7.5M Seed Extension to Accelerate Intelligent, Satellite-Free Navigation Across Commercial and Defense Sectors

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TERN, the company redefining AI-powered position and navigation without satellites, today announced the close of a $7.5 million Seed Extension round, from notable investors, Scout VC, Vanderbilt Endowment, Shadow Capital, Bravo Victor VC and others. The funding will fuel the expansion of its patented Independently Derived Positioning System (IDPS™) across key markets including automotive manufacturing, delivery fleets, emergency response, environmental services, and defense.

The announcement comes as TERN advances in the U.S. Army's xTechOverwatch competition, underscoring the dual-use demand for resilient navigation as GPS reliability faces growing strain. From urban logistics to national security, organizations worldwide are seeking alternatives that ensure positioning continuity without reliance on vulnerable satellite infrastructure.

"As our economy and society integrate ever more advanced technology into daily life, from the phones in our pockets and the watches on our wrists to the apps that move people and goods, all of it relies on consistent and resilient positioning," said Brett Harrison, Co-Founder and President of TERN. "We're delivering an intelligent, software-only solution built for this new era, one that works seamlessly even in tunnels, dense cities, remote terrain, and even contested environments, without satellites, external infrastructure, or interruption."

Tested by the U.S. Department of Transportation and in live trials with automotive OEMs and delivery fleets, IDPS™ has already proven its ability to deliver uninterrupted position and navigation without reliance on satellite signals. Tested in various cities on multiple continents, the system has guided vehicles seamlessly through environments where GNSS/GPS is unavailable or unreliable, from dense urban corridors and tunnels to rural highways and complex delivery routes. Designed for seamless OEM integration, IDPS™ delivers hyper-continuity without added cameras, LiDAR, or costly infrastructure. It enhances turn-by-turn navigation, improves ADAS performance, and future-proofs autonomous vehicle platforms by removing GPS as a single point of failure.

"TERN is building on a decades-old foundation of global mobility to create a stronger, more resilient layer for the future," said Shaun Moore, Co-Founder and CEO of TERN. "This round allows us to scale across industries, from automakers building the next generation of vehicles, to delivery fleets reducing inefficiencies, to governments advancing mission resilience."

ABOUT TERN: TERN's patented, award-winning Independently Derived Positioning System (IDPS™) redefines navigation by using proprietary AI to interpret real-time map and sensor data, enabling precise vehicle positioning without relying on satellites. Seamlessly integrating into OEM platforms, commercial fleets, and defense systems, IDPS™ delivers unmatched reliability and safety, even in GPS-denied environments. Founded by a team of former navigational-focused special operators and AI pioneers, TERN is setting the new standard for positioning technology. 

Learn more and request a test drive of IDPS ™.

Media Contact:
Julie Andersen
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SOURCE TERN