Blab Tech
ASIO Raises $15 Million to Expand GPS-Independent Tactical Systems
Israeli defense‑technology company ASIO has closed its first funding round, raising $15 million in capital led by Protego Ventures and co‑led by Miami‑based Aliya Capital Partners. The round will support the company’s plans to increase production, accelerate product development, and broaden sales to defense customers around the world.
ASIO was founded by brothers Tomer and Yaniv Malchi and grew as a profitable, bootstrapped business before turning to external investors. The company focuses on tactical systems that enable military units to operate in environments where communications and satellite navigation can be disrupted. Its core technology, GeoFusion, is proprietary and is designed to help forces coordinate operations, maintain situational awareness, and navigate without continuous reliance on GPS or conventional communication networks.
GeoFusion uses advanced algorithms and sensor fusion to create a shared, real‑time map of the operational area. By integrating data from inertial navigation, radio signals, and other local sensors, the system can provide accurate positioning and navigation even when GPS signals are denied or jammed. The technology is intended to support a range of military applications, from infantry units to unmanned aerial vehicles.
In addition to GeoFusion, ASIO’s product portfolio includes command‑and‑control systems, tactical intelligence tools, situational‑awareness platforms, target‑acquisition technology, and navigation systems for both ground and aerial platforms. The company also develops direction‑finding solutions for environments where conventional navigation tools may be unavailable or unreliable.
ASIO’s systems are already deployed across all branches of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and are used by defense customers internationally. The company reports that its solutions have been field‑tested in complex operational theaters and have earned the trust of military operators in multiple countries.
The $15 million round was led by Protego Ventures, an Israeli venture‑capital fund that focuses on defense technology, with Aliya Capital Partners serving as co‑lead investor. According to the company, the new capital will be used to increase production capacity, speed up product development cycles, and expand partnerships with governments, major defense contractors, original equipment manufacturers, and other industry partners in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Founder and CEO Tomer Malchi said the investment marks an important milestone in ASIO’s growth. “Modern battlefields demand technologies that enable tactical units to operate independently, maintain mission continuity, and make faster, better‑informed decisions,” he said. “This investment will allow us to accelerate innovation, expand globally, and continue delivering combat‑proven operational capabilities that can be deployed at scale.” Lital Leshem, co‑founder and managing partner at Protego Ventures, added that GeoFusion’s ability to keep joint forces coordinated when GPS and communications fall away is a key differentiator. Ross Kestin, founder and CEO of Aliya Capital Partners, described ASIO as a “category‑defining defense technology company” and said the investment deepens the firm’s commitment to Israel’s defense‑tech ecosystem.
The funding round reflects the growing interest of global defense markets in technologies that mitigate the vulnerability of satellite‑based navigation and communications. Israel’s defense‑tech sector has attracted significant venture capital in recent years, and ASIO’s focus on GPS‑independent solutions positions it to address a niche that is increasingly relevant in contested environments. The company’s track record of field deployment and its ability to scale production are likely factors that attracted investors.
At present, ASIO is using the new capital to expand production lines, accelerate development of its next‑generation GeoFusion modules, and pursue new partnerships in key markets. No specific product launch dates have been announced, but the company’s leadership indicates that the funding will enable the delivery of additional combat‑proven capabilities in the coming months. The round also marks a significant step for ASIO as it transitions from a bootstrapped, profitable startup to a company with external capital backing its global expansion.
ASIO was founded by brothers Tomer and Yaniv Malchi and grew as a profitable, bootstrapped business before turning to external investors. The company focuses on tactical systems that enable military units to operate in environments where communications and satellite navigation can be disrupted. Its core technology, GeoFusion, is proprietary and is designed to help forces coordinate operations, maintain situational awareness, and navigate without continuous reliance on GPS or conventional communication networks.
GeoFusion uses advanced algorithms and sensor fusion to create a shared, real‑time map of the operational area. By integrating data from inertial navigation, radio signals, and other local sensors, the system can provide accurate positioning and navigation even when GPS signals are denied or jammed. The technology is intended to support a range of military applications, from infantry units to unmanned aerial vehicles.
In addition to GeoFusion, ASIO’s product portfolio includes command‑and‑control systems, tactical intelligence tools, situational‑awareness platforms, target‑acquisition technology, and navigation systems for both ground and aerial platforms. The company also develops direction‑finding solutions for environments where conventional navigation tools may be unavailable or unreliable.
ASIO’s systems are already deployed across all branches of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and are used by defense customers internationally. The company reports that its solutions have been field‑tested in complex operational theaters and have earned the trust of military operators in multiple countries.
The $15 million round was led by Protego Ventures, an Israeli venture‑capital fund that focuses on defense technology, with Aliya Capital Partners serving as co‑lead investor. According to the company, the new capital will be used to increase production capacity, speed up product development cycles, and expand partnerships with governments, major defense contractors, original equipment manufacturers, and other industry partners in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Founder and CEO Tomer Malchi said the investment marks an important milestone in ASIO’s growth. “Modern battlefields demand technologies that enable tactical units to operate independently, maintain mission continuity, and make faster, better‑informed decisions,” he said. “This investment will allow us to accelerate innovation, expand globally, and continue delivering combat‑proven operational capabilities that can be deployed at scale.” Lital Leshem, co‑founder and managing partner at Protego Ventures, added that GeoFusion’s ability to keep joint forces coordinated when GPS and communications fall away is a key differentiator. Ross Kestin, founder and CEO of Aliya Capital Partners, described ASIO as a “category‑defining defense technology company” and said the investment deepens the firm’s commitment to Israel’s defense‑tech ecosystem.
The funding round reflects the growing interest of global defense markets in technologies that mitigate the vulnerability of satellite‑based navigation and communications. Israel’s defense‑tech sector has attracted significant venture capital in recent years, and ASIO’s focus on GPS‑independent solutions positions it to address a niche that is increasingly relevant in contested environments. The company’s track record of field deployment and its ability to scale production are likely factors that attracted investors.
At present, ASIO is using the new capital to expand production lines, accelerate development of its next‑generation GeoFusion modules, and pursue new partnerships in key markets. No specific product launch dates have been announced, but the company’s leadership indicates that the funding will enable the delivery of additional combat‑proven capabilities in the coming months. The round also marks a significant step for ASIO as it transitions from a bootstrapped, profitable startup to a company with external capital backing its global expansion.
