Arondite raises $12M to unlock safe, scalable ‘human-machine’ teaming with AI

Autonomous systems—drones, robots, and sensors—are increasingly common across industries. But these machines still operate in silos, requiring human operators to, at best, manually piece together fragmented data, at worst have moments of little visibility. The result? Vast amounts of data goes unused, operational effectiveness is limited, and real-time coordination is unnecessarily difficult. Will Blyth (CEO) and Rob Underhill (CTO) founded Arondite to solve this problem with a platform that connects disparate autonomous tools to give human operators clearer oversight and better operational control, ultimately leading to a safer deployment of autonomous systems.

The team brings a unique combination of real-world experience and top-tier technical talent. Will is a former British Army officer who held roles at the Ministry of Defence, Palantir and Helsing, and Rob was a lead engineer at BAE Systems before becoming the founding engineer at Garrison Technology.

Drawing on their experience, they’re building a ‘connective tissue’ that allows operators to oversee disparate systems through a single interface. Made for organisations that use a range of autonomous systems, the technology has a wide range of security and defence use cases, including minefield clearance, and protecting large scale public infrastructure such as transport and energy networks.

We’ve known Arondite since inception and it’s been clear from the outset that launching the startup has come from a place of thorough consideration. “We are deeply mindful of the responsibility to ensure that AI tools are built in a way that makes sure humans retain the right levels of control,” says Will. “It's critically important that the systems we provide to those who provide security for us cannot undermine or in any way be less than worthy of the values that we're seeking to protect in the first place.”

Experiencing the problem first-hand and forging an entrepreneurial mindset

Will and Rob bring a similar logical, reasoned approach to building Arondite, informed by two interlinked training grounds: the British Army and leading companies Palantir, Helsing and BAE Systems. Now, they are using the insights gained at each to propel their success as co-founders.

“I think it’s no surprise that Palantir has spawned lots of entrepreneurs because the lived experience there matches that of building a company. Responsibility is pushed to the edges,” says Will. At Palantir, he was instantly expected to provide value for customers and iterate closely with them to create an even more useful solution over time. “The process is basically building a small product company many times over as you go from customer to customer.”

“You’re expected to come up with good ideas and execute them without seeking permission,” says Will, who is no stranger to the sensation after his stint as an army officer. “In the military, you learned to be comfortable being uncomfortable. As soon as you settle into one role, you’re promoted and moved onto the next challenge. Being a founder is a lot like that; there’s always the next stage.”

Arondite stands at the intersection of AI and robotics—arguably the most consequential frontier of our time. We're proud to back Will and Rob as they channel their rare blend of frontline experience, deep technical skill, and entrepreneurial drive to redefine how humans and machines operate as one.