Tenna Systems Raises $13.5M for Software-Based Electronic Warfare

NEW YORK, NY – February 11, 2026 – Defense technology startup Tenna Systems has secured an oversubscribed $13.5 million seed funding round to accelerate the deployment of its software-driven spectrum intelligence platform. The round, led by Costanoa, signals strong investor confidence in the company's novel approach to protecting critical military and aerospace assets from the growing threat of radio frequency interference.

Founded by veterans of signals intelligence and electronic warfare programs, Tenna is pioneering a “hardware-free” solution to map the invisible battlefield of the electromagnetic spectrum. The new capital will fuel the company's expansion within the U.S. defense market, where it is already working with multiple government agencies to counter threats like GPS jamming and drone communication disruption.

The Invisible Battlefield Gets a New Map

In modern conflict, dominance is increasingly defined not just by physical territory, but by control over the electromagnetic spectrum. Wireless communication, navigation, and autonomous systems are the lifeblood of today's military, yet they are acutely vulnerable to disruption. Tenna Systems aims to provide the critical visibility needed to operate in these contested environments.

The company’s core innovation is a software platform that transforms a network of existing devices—from aircraft and drones to ships and satellites—into a distributed web of live sensors. Instead of requiring the costly and time-consuming rollout of specialized new hardware, Tenna's software leverages the signal emitters and receivers already present on the battlefield. This creates a unified, real-time map of the radio frequency (RF) domain.

“Much like AccuWeather but for electronic warfare, our software transforms the blizzard of sensor data into a real-time map of Radio Frequency (RF) domains,” said Avner Bendheim, co-founder and CEO at Tenna. “This gives our partners a ground truth in navigating the electromagnetic spectrum.”

This approach aligns with a broader shift in military technology towards cognitive electronic warfare, which utilizes artificial intelligence and software-defined radio (SDR) principles to adapt to threats dynamically. Tenna's platform can pinpoint the source of interference, such as jamming or spoofing signals, with a precision of 50 to 200 meters. This provides commanders with actionable intelligence, allowing them to either neutralize the threat or navigate around it to maintain operational continuity.

Tenna’s product suite is designed to address the full lifecycle of spectrum operations:

• Arena: Provides real-time monitoring and visualization of the RF environment, highlighting coverage gaps and detecting interference.
• Tracer: Accurately geolocates the source of interference, enabling targeted mitigation efforts.
• Halo: An embedded software component that acts as “armor” for individual systems, enabling them to maintain resilience and function even when under electronic attack.

Addressing a Critical National Security Vulnerability

The urgency for such technology has never been greater. The proliferation of low-cost jammers and spoofers allows adversaries to threaten multi-billion-dollar assets with minimal investment. The reliance on GPS for navigation and timing, the explosion of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and the need for constant data links between assets create a vast attack surface. A disruption in connectivity can render a sophisticated drone blind, lead a guided munition astray, or sever communication between a command center and its troops.

Tenna's software-first philosophy is a direct response to this challenge. “Agility is everything in the evolving world of the electromagnetic spectrum,” Bendheim noted. “While traditional solutions demand costly infrastructure rollouts and custom sensors, we provide a hardware-free solution that is as essential as any other mission-critical tool.”

By turning the battlefield's own assets into a self-monitoring network, Tenna offers a scalable and adaptable defense layer. This dynamic awareness is crucial for ensuring what the military calls mission-ready resilience—the ability to complete a mission despite operating in a degraded or hostile electronic environment.

A New Breed of Defense Contractor

Tenna Systems represents a new wave of defense technology companies that are attracting significant attention from venture capitalists. The company was founded in 2023 by twin brothers Avner and Gabriel Bendheim, who drew upon decades of leadership experience in elite signals intelligence (SIGINT) and electronic warfare units. Their firsthand understanding of the limitations of traditional, hardware-heavy systems inspired them to develop a more nimble, software-based solution.

This deep domain expertise, combined with a disruptive business model, proved compelling to investors. The $13.5 million seed round was led by Costanoa and saw participation from Viola Ventures, Fresh Fund, 202 Ventures, and other existing investors. This backing is part of a larger trend where venture capital is increasingly funding startups that can innovate faster than the legacy defense industrial base.

Greg Sands, Founder and Managing Partner at Costanoa, highlighted the strategic importance of the investment. “Tenna's founding team brings a rare mix of operational, technical, and commercial expertise,” he stated. “We believe Tenna is advancing a new era of spectrum intelligence to protect connectivity across all domains. It has the power to transform how defense partners secure wireless systems, ensuring readiness and resilience on a global scale.”

From Lab to Battlefield

Unlike many early-stage startups, Tenna Systems already has significant traction and a proven track record. The company's technology is described as “battlefield-proven,” having been successfully deployed with U.S. allied forces, including the Israel Ministry of Defence, in recent conflicts. These operational deployments in highly contested environments have reportedly delivered critical advantages and validated the platform's reliability and performance.

In the United States, Tenna is actively engaged with the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, and other federal defense agencies to advance its spectrum intelligence capabilities. The company is working with both government agencies and prime contractors, positioning its software as a key component in the broader defense ecosystem.

With the new funding, Tenna plans to accelerate its growth and deepen its partnerships within the U.S. market. The company announced it intends to more than double its headcount over the next 12 months to meet the growing demand for its technology. This rapid scaling underscores the immediate need for advanced electronic warfare solutions as the character of global conflict continues to evolve. The ability to see and control the invisible domain of the electromagnetic spectrum is no longer a niche capability but a fundamental requirement for modern military success.