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Pre-IPO · Secondaries Series 2026

Cometum
Shield AI Bond
Invest before the IPO.

Structured secondary-market access to Shield AI — the world's leading developer of AI pilot software for defense aircraft. Exclusively for professional investors.

German SecurityISIN / WKNMin. €5,000From 15.05.2026

The bonds offered are an entrepreneurial investment with risks. In principle, a total loss of the invested capital cannot be ruled out.

€50m
Bond volume, with extension option
3 + 2 years
Term plus extension option
€1,000
Denomination per bond
IPO / Secondary
Clear exit strategies
Company Overview

The world's leading developer of AI pilot software for defense aircraft

Shield AI's flagship Hivemind platform — the only combat-proven autonomous AI pilot continuously deployed since 2018 — flies aircraft and drones in GPS- and communications-denied environments without human input. Hivemind has already piloted 26 different vehicle classes including F-16s, jet-powered UAVs, helicopters, drone boats, and ground vehicles.

In February 2026, the U.S. Air Force selected Hivemind as a mission-autonomy software provider for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, operating onboard Anduril's YFQ-44A Fury — the first time the USAF has decoupled mission autonomy from the airframe. Shield AI's complementary aircraft portfolio includes V-BAT (deployed in Ukraine, in production with multiple nations) and X-BAT (unveiled October 2025), the world's first AI-piloted VTOL fighter jet with a 2,000-nautical-mile range.

Revenue grew from ~USD 170 million in 2024 to ~USD 300 million in 2025, with management guiding to more than USD 540 million in 2026 (>80% growth). With the CCA program win, X-BAT entering flight test, and the pending Aechelon acquisition, Shield AI is positioned as the second pillar of the U.S. autonomy-first defense industrial base alongside Anduril.

USAF CCA Program · HivemindV-BAT · Deployed in UkraineX-BAT · First AI-piloted VTOL fighter
HeadquartersSan Diego, California, USA
Founded / Employees2015 / ~1,000 employees
IndustryDefense Technology – AI-Powered Autonomous Piloting Software & Aircraft
Core ProductsHivemind Enterprise (EdgeOS, Pilot, Commander, Forge), V-BAT (VTOL drone), X-BAT (AI-piloted VTOL fighter), Nova 2, Sentient Vision Systems / ViDAR, Hivemind Foundation Model for Defense
LeadershipBrandon Tseng (Co-Founder, President & CGO; former Navy SEAL), Ryan Tseng (Co-Founder), Andrew Reiter (Co-Founder), Gary Steele (CEO), Nathan Michael (CTO)
Selected InvestorsAdvent International, JPMorganChase, Blackstone, L3Harris, Hanwha, Andreessen Horowitz, Riot Ventures, U.S. Innovative Technology Fund, Point72 Ventures, Breyer Capital, Founders Collective, Bloomberg Beta
Selected CustomersU.S. Department of War, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Special Operations Command, Japan, India, Armenia, Ukraine, UAE, Australia, Israel
Valuation Development

A 140% valuation step-up
within twelve months

Shield AI's last primary financing valued the company at USD 12.7 billion (Series G, March 2026), representing a 140% increase over the prior March 2025 mark of USD 5.3 billion. With 2026 revenue guided above USD 540 million, this implies a forward revenue multiple of approximately 24x. Lifetime equity raised now exceeds USD 3.6 billion.

$14B$10.5B$7B$3.5B$0B$0.04B$2.3B$2.7B$5.3B$12.7BSeed · 2016Series D · Jun 2022Series E · Oct 2023Series F-1 · Mar 2025Series G · Mar 2026

Solid line = primary funding rounds (post-money). All valuation figures are indicative. Source: Cometum analysis based on public data and market research (Fortune, Washington Technology, Crunchbase, Sacra, PitchBook, Shield AI press releases). Valuations do not necessarily reflect Cometum's entry price.

March 2025 · Series F-1
USD 240m at USD 5.3B post-money
L3Harris and Hanwha as strategic investors
February 2026
USAF CCA program win
Hivemind selected as mission-autonomy software provider onboard Anduril's YFQ-44A Fury
March 2026 · Series G
USD 1.5bn at USD 12.7B post-money
Co-led by Advent International and JPMorganChase's Security and Resiliency Initiative; plus USD 500m non-dilutive preferred equity from Blackstone and a USD 250m delayed-draw facility (total package ~USD 2.25bn)
Ownership Structure

A clear path from your investment
to Shield AI shares

Step 1
Investors
Step 2
Cometum's SPV
Step 3
External SPVs
Underlying
Shield AI Shares
1

Investors purchase the Cometum Bond — a German security with €1,000 denomination and €5,000 minimum subscription.

2

Cometum's SPV participates in one or more special purpose vehicles.

3

These special purpose vehicles are directly or indirectly holding the shares of Shield AI.

Assessment

Opportunities & Risks

Opportunities

  • Hyper-scaling revenue: ~USD 170M (2024) → ~USD 300M (2025) → guided USD 540M+ (2026E), >80% growth on a profitable contract base.
  • USAF CCA program win: Hivemind selected as autonomy software provider, decoupled from airframe — "Android moment" of military aviation.
  • X-BAT first-mover: World's first AI-piloted VTOL fighter jet (23,000 lb, 2,000 nm range); production at Newton, Kansas.
  • International expansion: Active deployments in Japan, India, Armenia, Ukraine, UAE, Australia, Israel — non-U.S. revenue diversification.
  • Tier-1 investor signaling: Advent International, JPMorganChase, Blackstone, L3Harris, Hanwha — crossover capital base typically associated with pre-IPO positioning.
  • Sim-to-real moat: Aechelon acquisition creates proprietary simulation training pipeline used in the DoW's Joint Simulation Environment.

Risks

  • Intense competition: Legacy primes (Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX, Boeing) and next-generation challengers (Anduril, Helsing, Saronic) with deep capital pools.
  • Procurement dependency: Heavy reliance on U.S. DoW and allied defense budgets; CCA program co-selection with Anduril means revenue must be earned per platform, not as a category monopoly.
  • Profitability path: Heavy ongoing R&D investment in Hivemind Foundation Model and X-BAT; not yet GAAP-profitable.
  • Manufacturing execution: X-BAT first VTOL flights planned for 2026, operational validation not before 2028; V-BAT production must scale across multiple allied nations.
  • Aechelon closing risk: Series G final close contingent on regulatory approval of Aechelon acquisition; failure would trigger investor re-evaluation.
  • Operational risk: 2024 V-BAT testing incident (injury to a U.S. Navy service member) underlines operational risk in autonomous platforms.
  • Valuation risk: 140% valuation step-up in 12 months and ~24x forward revenue multiple increase sensitivity to revenue execution and IPO market conditions.
  • Structural & FX risk: Indirect exposure via structured bond; USD currency risk; total loss possible.
The Cometum Bond at a Glance

Clear terms. Clear exit strategies
via IPO or the secondary market.

Bond

Subordinated bearer bond providing structured participation in the value development of Shield AI — issued as a German security.

Cometum Fees
5.5%Entry Fee
5.0%Equity Option Fee
IssuerCometum Direct Invest GmbH & Co. KG
Type of InvestmentBond
Issuance VolumeUp to €50m with possible extension
Term3 years, plus extension option of up to 2 years
CouponVariable, payable at maturity
Bond StatusSubordinated, unsecured
Denomination€1,000
Minimum Subscription€5,000
Offer PeriodFrom 15.05.2026
Management Team

Capital markets expertise,
built for private markets

CEO & Founder

Sascha Miller

Lawyer specialized in banking and capital markets law. Previously Ashurst LLP and CACEIS Bank.

sascha.miller@cometum.com
CIO & Founder

Uwe Passmann

Specialist in Wealth Management & B2B Sales. Previously Scalable Capital and Reimann Investors.

uwe.passmann@cometum.com

Request access to the Shield AI Bond

Available exclusively to professional clients as defined by MiFID II. Contact our team to receive the offering documents, terms and conditions, and the full risk notice.

Only the information provided in the issuer's offering documents is decisive for the assessment of the bond.
Contact the Team

Risk Notice

This product is intended exclusively for professional clients as defined by MiFID II. Buyers of a bond assume a significant risk, which can lead to the complete loss of the invested capital. The information provided here is non-binding promotional material and, in its nature and form, expressly does not constitute financial or any other investment advice. The information mentioned in no way replaces investment advice tailored to the investor's circumstances. The issuer expressly points out the following facts: Only the information provided in the issuer's offering documents (Cometum Direct Invest GmbH & Co. KG), i.e., the terms and conditions of the bond and the risk notice, are decisive for the assessment of the bond. None of the information constitutes an invitation to submit an offer to purchase, nor is it an offer to subscribe to or buy the issuer's bond. Cometum is not a bank, but solely an issuer and product provider for exclusive private markets products. This investment does not involve the direct acquisition of Shield AI shares by the investor, but rather a structured participation that allows participation in the value development of Shield AI. The information regarding the current valuation of Shield AI serves informational purposes only. The valuation at which structured participation in Shield AI takes place may differ from the current market valuation. It does not indicate an indicative entry price from Cometum. The company operates in a highly competitive market environment characterized by regulatory developments and geopolitical uncertainties. The strategic focus is on technology-oriented clients who require innovative solutions and high adaptability. Cometum participates directly or indirectly through one or more investments in special purpose vehicles, which in turn are directly involved with Shield AI. The Shield AI bond is therefore an entrepreneurial investment with risks. In principle, a total loss of the invested capital cannot be ruled out. The shares of Shield AI Inc. are quoted in the foreign currency US Dollar ("USD"). Therefore, in addition to customary market price fluctuations, they are also subject to exchange rate risk. Changes in the exchange rate between the euro and the USD can affect the performance and the euro-denominated return of the investment both positively and negatively. An appreciation of the euro against the USD may lead to losses, even if the price of Shield AI shares in their home currency, USD, has risen. Additional fees may apply at underlying participation levels (management fees, performance fees, exit fees, fees in connection with an IPO). The exact number of Shield AI shares outstanding is not necessarily publicly known or fixed at the time of investment. Shield AI may issue additional shares — for example in connection with its IPO, the financing of an acquisition, further financing rounds, or employee participation programmes. Such issuances dilute existing holders: the total number of shares increases, and the proportion of the company attributable to each existing share decreases accordingly. As a result, the valuation at which the structured participation was entered may, in retrospect, prove higher relative to the effective per-share basis and may change to the investor's disadvantage. In particular, the total valuation of the company may increase while the value attributable to an individual share — and therefore to the investor's participation — does not increase to the same extent, or may even decline. The headline valuation figures stated in this material are therefore not a reliable indicator of the value development of the investor's participation, which depends on the per-share value at the relevant point in time. This presentation is a non-binding offer (invitatio ad offerendum) and is for informational purposes only.