Project A co-founder to become new head of military drone startup Stark – Peter Thiel is invested
Uwe Horstmann, co-founder of Project A, is set to take over the leadership of the German-Ukrainian defense tech company.
Berlin-based investor Uwe Horstmann, known as co-founder of the early-stage investor Project A, is set to take over the CEO role of the German-Ukrainian drone startup Stark, according to industry sources .
The company Stark develops autonomous, armed drones exclusively for military purposes – and is currently testing its first drone in combat operations in Ukraine.
Horstmann is no stranger to the startup scene: He is one of the most respected names in Germany's startup scene. As a former Managing Director of Rocket Internet and founder of Project A, he is well-versed in the startup business.
He also has a military background: He is a reservist in the German Armed Forces and was previously involved, among other things, in the Project A investment in Quantum Systems – the drone startup that recently became a unicorn.
Both Stark and Quantum System were founded by Florian Seibel, a former German army pilot.
Stark’s team is top-class:
- Johannes Schaback , formerly CTO at Home24 and SumUp, will be responsible for the technology, according to Table Media.
- Philip Lockwood , former head of NATO's innovation department, heads international business, as reported by Handelsblatt .
- According to Table Media , Johannes Arlt (SPD) will also strengthen the management team as Senior Vice President. The Air Force officer was a member of the Bundestag's Defense Committee until 2025.
And the German-American investor and Trump confidant Peter Thiel is also involved in the German drone startup.
As part of a financing round, Thiel is said to have invested 15 million euros in Stark, according to Manager Magazin .
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