German defense startup Helsing nears $18 billion valuation in $1.2 billion round, FT says

German defense startup Helsing is set to raise new funding at a valuation of about $18 billion, the Financial Times reported on Saturday. The $1.2 ⁠billion ⁠fundraising is being led by US firm Dragoneer Investment Group, with existing backer Lightspeed Venture Partners acting as co-lead, the FT said, citing people familiar with the matter.

The latest ‌Helsing fundraising was ​oversubscribed ​multiple times, the FT said. The fundraising plans are at an ​advanced stage but the timing has ​not yet been finalised, the newspaper said.