Perseus Defense

What do they actually do

Perseus Defense is building small, guided “micro‑missiles” (about 15–16 inches long) and a portable launcher battery meant to shoot down hostile small drones. The company has multiple working prototypes and reports more than 30 live‑fire flight tests as it iterates guidance and lethality at prototype scale perseusdefense.com YC company page.

Today, the product is in the prototype and field‑trial phase. The team is conducting end‑user interviews and briefings with U.S. DoD/DHS stakeholders (e.g., 1st Cavalry Division at Ft. Hood, Pentagon/congressional sessions) and is building toward a human‑in‑the‑loop engagement concept rather than fully autonomous release YC company page villpress.com flyeye.io. The business is pre‑production, hiring engineers, and moving from prototype/testing toward manufacturable designs, with seed financing reported to support this transition tectonicdefense.com.

Who are their target customer(s)

• Forward unit / convoy commander: Worried about small enemy drones surveilling or striking convoys; current defenses are too bulky or scarce to cover routes. Needs a portable, mountable, operator‑controlled interceptor that can be used quickly in the field.
• Base or critical‑infrastructure security manager: Faces persistent small‑UAS harassment without an affordable way to cover large areas. Needs a low‑cost, maintainable system that can be widely deployed without heavy logistics burden.
• DHS/DoD procurement officer or program manager: Must buy systems that pass safety/qualification and integrate with existing C2 workflows. Needs a product that completes required testing, keeps human oversight, and fits standard contracting paths.
• Defense prime / systems integrator: Integrates larger protection systems and needs components that are manufacturable at scale with clear interfaces. Seeks small, inexpensive interceptors that plug into existing sensors/C2 without long redesigns.
• Frontline operator / security team gunner: Will deploy and fire the system and wants simple controls and predictable behavior with clear human oversight. Needs rugged equipment that’s easy to train on and safe to use in tight rules‑of‑engagement.

How would they acquire their first 10, 50, and 100 customers

• First 10: Convert current briefings into short, documented field pilots by delivering prototype batteries for hands‑on demos/live‑fire, then close small rapid buys or prototype contracts via unit/program‑office channels YC company page villpress.
• First 50: Replicate pilots across multiple bases/convoy units and partner with 1–2 primes to list Perseus as a line‑item on vehicle/base‑protection packages, bundling limited supply runs and training for evaluation perseusdefense.com tectonicdefense.com.
• First 100: Stand up low‑volume production and standardized field service/training, then pursue formal procurement vehicles and prime subcontracts; use aggregated pilot/safety data to win program‑office pilots and larger lots perseusdefense.com YC company page.

What is the rough total addressable market

Top-down context:

U.S. DoD’s FY26 request includes at least ~$858M for counter‑UAS capabilities, indicating a sizable near‑term procurement pool for systems like kinetic interceptors and batteries Defense News/Federal News Network. Global C‑UAS market estimates vary by scope, with one report around ~$2.3B in 2024 and others higher depending on inclusions Reanin UnmannedAirspace.

Bottom-up calculation:

Illustratively, if 100 U.S. sites each procure 3 portable batteries and 200 interceptors at notional $100k per battery and $5k per interceptor, initial hardware demand would be ~$(0.3M + 1.0M)=~$1.3M per site, or ~$130M total; annual interceptor replenishment could add tens of millions depending on usage. This aligns with a conservative "low hundreds of millions" near‑term pool concentrated in DoD/DHS buys.

Assumptions:

• Notional pricing: ~$100k per launcher battery; ~$5k–$10k per interceptor (for planning only).
• Initial U.S. adoption: ~100 priority sites (bases, convoy units, critical nodes) buying small lots first.
• Replenishment: 25%–75% of initial interceptor volume annually depending on operational tempo.

Who are some of their notable competitors

• Raytheon (RTX) – Coyote C-UAS: Combat‑proven kinetic and non‑kinetic effector family paired with KuRFS radar; a direct comparator for tube‑launched C‑UAS interceptors RTX.
• Anduril – Anvil Interceptor: High‑speed kinetic interceptor for Group 1–2 drones, part of Anduril’s integrated counter‑UAS portfolio Anduril.
• DroneShield: RF sensing/jamming and integrated C2 across dismounted, on‑the‑move, and fixed‑site systems (e.g., DroneSentry, DroneGun) DroneShield.
• Dedrone (by Axon) – DedroneDefender: AI‑assisted smart jammer integrated with DedroneTracker.AI for detection, ID, and mitigation; widely used for government/military C‑UAS Dedrone.
• Epirus – Leonidas HPM: High‑power microwave directed‑energy family (Leonidas) for counter‑swarm/short‑range air defense; integrates with existing C2 Epirus.