Mutable Tactics closes pre-seed funding round

Air March 4, 2026

Mutable Tactics, a Cambridge-based robotics autonomy specialist, has successfully secured $2.1 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Seraphim Space.

This significant capital injection includes participation from the UK’s National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF), alongside Koro, Entrepreneurs First, and Transpose. Founded in August 2024 by former British Army officer Colin MacLeod and robotics AI specialist Enrique Muñoz de Cote, the company is focused on developing an AI-powered decision layer for unmanned systems. The funding is designated to accelerate the development of software that allows mixed fleets of aerial, maritime, and ground drones to operate as coordinated teams, particularly in environments where communications and GPS are unreliable or denied.

For businesses within the UK defence supply chain, this development addresses a critical operational bottleneck: the “one operator, one system” ratio. Current drone deployments are often limited by human attention and the requirement for constant connectivity. Mutable Tactics’ software sits between the human operator and the robotic platform, translating high-level mission intent into locally executable actions. This enables a single operator to supervise multiple assets simultaneously, with the software managing tactical coordination at the edge. This transition from manual control to scalable human-machine teaming represents a significant shift for prime contractors and sub-contractors involved in the manufacturing of unmanned platforms, as it necessitates the integration of more sophisticated, resilient autonomy layers.

The investment will specifically support the expansion of the company’s engineering team in Cambridge and the validation of its technology in collaboration with two European governments. These partnerships aim to test the software under real operational conditions, focusing on priority defence missions. Furthermore, the capital will facilitate integration work with unmanned-system partners and preparations for live demonstrations in demanding environments. This presents a tangible opportunity for hardware manufacturers looking to enhance the survivability and utility of their platforms in contested electronic warfare scenarios.

The technology combines deep learning for operation in uncertain environments with deterministic AI to ensure that system behaviour remains explainable and aligned with military rules of engagement. By focusing on software that can be integrated into existing low-cost platforms without requiring hardware overhauls, Mutable Tactics is positioning itself as a key enabler for the next generation of autonomous warfare. As the UK continues to invest in sovereign capabilities for physical AI, this funding round highlights a growing market for resilient, interoperable coordination software that can maintain operational effectiveness across satellite, alternative navigation, and manual modes. This development underscores the increasing importance of software-driven autonomy in maintaining a technological advantage for the UK and its allies.

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