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by Stephen Perry on 05/17/2024
Irvine, CA (May, 17, 2024) - Janes Capital Partners served as co-adviser alongside Oaklin's colleagues at Henslow to support Sentient Vision Systems (“Sentient”) on its sale to Shield AI. This acquisition is expected to strengthen Shield AI's position in the defense technology sector by integrating advanced visual detection capabilities with its autonomous systems, thereby offering enhanced ISR solutions to meet the evolving demands of modern defense operations.
Shield AI, the defense technology company building the world’s best AI pilot, has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Sentient Vision Systems (“Sentient”), an Australia-based leader in AI-enabled real-time situational awareness, pending customary closing conditions and regulatory approval. The companies will merge AI expertise and operational understanding to deliver superior intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities for today’s rapidly changing defense and security environment. In August 2023, the companies announced the joint development of a ViDAR-enabled wide area motion imagery (WAMI) solution called “Sentient Observer,” which Shield AI plans to fly this year.
Sentient Vision Systems is a global leader in passive optical detection technology, leveraging wide-area motion imagery and AI-enabled sensor edge solutions. Specializing in advanced AI computer vision and machine learning, Sentient excels at detecting and identifying small objects across land, air, and sea. With over 20 years of expertise in moving target indication and thousands of systems deployed worldwide, Sentient supports intelligence, surveillance, and search and rescue missions. Their cutting-edge solutions enhance real-time situational awareness and play a critical role in saving lives.
About Shield AI
Based in San Diego, CA, Shield AI (www.shield.ai) is a venture-backed defense technology company whose mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems. In pursuit of this mission, Shield AI is building the world’s best AI pilot. Its AI pilot, Hivemind, has flown jets (F-16; MQM-178 Firejet), a vertical takeoff and landing drone (MQ-35 V-BAT), and three quadcopters (Nova, Nova 2, iPRD). Shield AI’s products and people are currently in the field actively supporting operations with the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. allies.
About Sentient Vision Systems
Based in Melbourne, Australia, Sentient Vision Systems specializes in passive, optical detection using wide area motion imagery. Sentient’s Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled sensor edge solutions better detect and identify small objects, on land, in the air and at sea. With more than 20 years of development in moving target indication, AI computer vision and machine learning, Sentient has deployed thousands of systems worldwide in the field of Intelligence, Surveillance, Search and Rescue, enhancing situational awareness decisions in real-time and helped saved lives.
About Janes Capital Partners
Based in Irvine, CA, Janes Capital Partners (www.janescapital.com) is a leading investment banking firm focused solely on the Aerospace and Defense industry. The firm provides mergers and acquisition advisory services and assists clients in executing growth strategies and liquidity events. The members of Janes Capital Partners have completed more than 80 successful A&D transactions and $5.5 billion in closed transaction value. Securities transactions are conducted through JCP Securities, Inc., a registered Broker/Dealer, member FINRA/SIPC, and registered Investment Advisor.
Janes Capital Partners is an independent financial advisory firm that is affiliated with Oaklins International Inc (www.oaklins.com). Oaklins is the world’s most experienced mid-market M&A advisor, with 850 professionals globally and 15 dedicated industry teams in 45 countries.