Hidden Level is a Secret No More

Hidden Level, a provider of passive radar and radio frequency sensing technology for detecting and locating drones, has closed a $65 million Series C funding round led by DFJ Growth.

Other firms participating in this round include Booz Allen Ventures, Revolution Growth, Costanoa Ventures, Washington Harbour Partners, Veteran Ventures, and Founders Circle Capital.

Hidden Level detects and tracks a range of low-altitude and high-altitude aerial activity, including drones emitting signals, covertly operating dark drones, as well as aircraft, balloons, and other airborne objects. The company’s technology can also be used to pinpoint the locations of drone operators.

Hidden Level’s technology—available as hardware-based solutions or delivered as data-as-a-service—uses passive radar and RF direction-finding technology that remains undetectable to adversaries. The company is vertically integrated and controls every stage of its product development—from design to manufacturing to testing—rather than outsourcing these processes. This structure allows Hidden Level to create sensors that are cost-effective, easy to deploy, high-performing, and capable of detecting a wide range of signals across different frequencies. Founded in 2018 by Jeff Cole, Hidden Level is headquartered in Syracuse, New York.

“Critical infrastructure is the backbone of our nation’s security,” said Mr. Cole. “Today’s evolving threats demand comprehensive airspace monitoring, from low-altitude drones to high-altitude aircraft and everything in between. With this new funding, we are poised to expand our impact, enhancing defense capabilities and supporting public safety, critical infrastructure, and emerging commercial needs.”

Hidden Level’s technology has been developed in response to the increasing sophistication of drones. With smaller sizes, enhanced stealth capabilities, and the ability to operate in swarms, these drones are challenging for traditional radar systems to reliably detect and track. This gap in airspace situational awareness underscores the need for advanced sensing technologies capable of identifying and locating drone threats in real time, even in congested electromagnetic environments.

The company is on contract this year to support deployments for the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. Central Command, U.S. Northern Command, and other federal, state, and local agencies to address drone threats to national security, critical infrastructure, and military bases. The company’s technology has also been deployed for major events, including the recent presidential inauguration, where airspace security is critical.

“Hidden Level is addressing a critical gap in our defense capabilities with advanced technologies that identify and track the proliferating UAS threats while remaining virtually undetectable,” said Randy Glein, a founder and partner at DFJ Growth. “This capability is changing the game on the battlefield, providing an electronic surveillance shield for our forces and assets in harm’s way.”

The close of this round brings total funding for Hidden Level to $100 million and follows the company’s $35 million Series B round, led by Lauder Partners, which closed last summer.

DFJ Growth is a venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology companies. Founded in 2005, the firm has invested in companies including SpaceX, OpenAI, Stripe, Tesla, Coinbase, Unity, and Anduril.