Seitec raises $4m, hiring defence sales roles in Canberra
Canberra defence tech startup Seitec closed a $4 million seed round led by ACTivate Capital, with Beaten Zone Venture Partners and UNSW participating. The round is a first close toward a $5 million target, with around $1 million still open.
The company, founded in 2021 by former RAAF officer Daniel Stevens, builds passive sensing systems for target detection, tracking, and weapons-range safety. Think UXO detection and bomb scoring for defence and critical infrastructure clients. The technology lets users monitor contested environments without revealing their position.
Seitec currently sits at 11-20 employees, meaning the expansion will focus on building out a small specialist commercial team rather than a large sales organisation. No public revenue figures, which tracks for an early-stage defence startup. The company raised an initial $600k seed round in 2023.
Stevens spent 20 years in the RAAF as an avionics technician before founding Seitec to solve sensor failures in high-stakes environments. The company has built external credibility through the Land Forces 2024 Emerging Technology Award and completion of the Defence Trailblazer high-growth incubation program in 2025.
ACTivate Capital chair Mick Cardew Hall framed the investment around export potential: "Australia can't rely on domestic demand alone to grow and sustain this sector. Companies like Seitec show how Australian innovation can be commercialised globally."
What this means for sales teams: Defence tech sales cycles are long, technical, and relationship-driven. If you are in enterprise sales with government or defence experience, Seitec represents the kind of sovereign capability play that is getting funding attention. The $4m raise suggests they are moving from founder-led sales to building a proper GTM motion.
Worth noting: ACTivate Capital hit a $23m first close on its $50m fund backing Canberra research commercialisation. That pipeline could mean more hiring in the ACT defence and deep-tech space over the next 12-18 months.