TechCrunch Startup News Yurts raises $40 million to be the DoD’s AI Chatbot
Dec 4, 2024
Yurts has secured an impressive $40 million in funding to develop AI solutions for the Department of Defense. The discussion includes the inspiring journey of a military veteran who launched an AI integration platform tailored for high-security clients. Listeners will gain insight into the complexities of securing funding and navigating the competitive enterprise AI landscape. The ambitions surrounding artificial intelligence in military applications are explored, highlighting how innovation meets national security needs.
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Yurts Founder's Background
- Ben Van Roo, founder of Yurts, comes from a military family but couldn't become a pilot due to vision issues.
- He now aids the military through AI, founding a platform deployable within high-security businesses.
Yurts' DoD Ambitions
- Yurts aims to be the primary AI chat assistant for the Department of Defense, alongside the Pentagon's own chatbot.
- They secured a $40 million Series B funding, bringing total investment to $58.35 million.
Van Roo's Experience
- Before Yurts, Van Roo worked at RAND Corporation, researching supply chain issues in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait.
- He later worked on machine learning at Chegg and defense AI at Primer.ai.