Tenna Systems, a New York–based defense technology startup, has raised an oversubscribed $13.5 million seed round led by Costanoa Ventures, as the company seeks to expand deployment of its software-driven platform for monitoring and improving resilience in the radio frequency spectrum.

The funding will support growth in engineering and product development, as well as broader adoption among defence and government users. Tenna is positioning its platform as a way to help military and aerospace operators maintain connectivity and awareness in environments where communications, navigation, and targeting increasingly depend on uninterrupted access to the electromagnetic spectrum.

The company was founded by brothers Avner and Gabriel Bendheim, who previously worked in signals intelligence and spectrum-related defence programs. Their experience highlighted a structural limitation in how spectrum awareness has traditionally been handled. Existing systems often rely on specialised hardware that can be costly, difficult to scale, and slow to adapt as spectrum conditions change.

Tenna’s approach centres on software rather than standalone hardware. Its platform aggregates radio frequency data from airborne, terrestrial, and space-based sources and combines it into a real-time operational picture. This allows operators to monitor coverage gaps, detect interference, and identify the source of signal disruptions.

The company’s software is designed to provide continuous visibility into the electromagnetic environment, which has become increasingly contested. Military forces depend on reliable spectrum access to operate drones, aircraft, communications networks, and precision systems. Disruptions caused by interference or deliberate electronic attack can degrade operational effectiveness without physical damage to equipment.

Tenna has already secured early defence-related validation, including a $1.9 million U.S. Army Phase II contract and a $1.2 million award through AFWERX, the U.S. Air Force’s innovation arm. The company was also named an ARPA-I Stage 1 winner, reflecting interest in its software-based approach to spectrum intelligence.

The company’s platform includes capabilities to monitor spectrum conditions, geolocate sources of interference, and provide resilience features that help connected systems maintain operational continuity. By focusing on software deployment rather than dedicated hardware installations, Tenna aims to make spectrum awareness more scalable across different platforms and operational environments.

The seed funding reflects growing investor interest in companies addressing spectrum resilience, a domain that has become central to modern military operations. As defence forces rely more heavily on autonomous systems, distributed sensors, and wireless communications, maintaining visibility and control within the electromagnetic environment has become a strategic priority.

Tenna plans to use the new funding to accelerate development and expand its presence within defence and government sectors, as demand grows for tools that help operators understand and operate within an increasingly contested spectrum.

Photo Credit: tenna systems