Vizgard - a UK leader in AI security - selected by the prestigious NATO Tech Alliance
By Isabelle Smurfit
UK AI defence company chosen from nearly 4,000 applicants to join the Alliance's flagship accelerator
10 December 2025 - Vizgard, the AI-powered visual autonomy company backed by SVV (Sure Valley Ventures), has been selected for NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) 2026 cohort - one of the most competitive defence technology programmes in the world.
The London-based company is building the UK's sovereign visual autonomy layer: an edge-to-cloud platform that enables defence and security systems to detect, adapt, and respond in real time. Its software fully automates cameras and optical systems protecting critical infrastructure, eliminating the need for repetitive human monitoring. Vizgard already works with the UK Ministry of Defence, Home Office, HMGCC Co-Creation, British camera manufacturer Sesanti, and multiple national police forces.
Through DIANA, the company will receive €100,000 in funding, access to over 180 NATO test centres, expert mentorship, and a streamlined procurement pathway across Alliance member nations.
"Vizgard's selection from nearly 4,000 proposals validates both their technology and their team," said Brian Kinane, Founding Partner at SVV. "This is exactly the kind of breakthrough we look for - sovereign AI capability with genuine defence applications and a clear route to scale."
Founded in 2021 by former Royal Navy submariner Alex Kehoe, Vizgard raised a £1.5 million oversubscribed seed round led by SVV in January 2025. The company was also selected for KPMG's Future of Tech Access programme earlier this year.
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