Hidden Level’s Drone Detection Tech Soars with $100M Funding Boost in Syracuse

Hidden Level, a Syracuse-based startup specializing drone detection systems, is making waves in the drone industry after securing $100 million in new investor funding reports Syracuse.com. The company, which develops technology to track aerial drones and their operators, is rapidly expanding its operations and workforce in Central New York, driven by growing demand for its solutions amid rising national security concerns.

Rapid Growth Fueled by Investment

Hidden Level’s recent funding round, announced in February 2025, includes $65 million led by DFJ Growth, with participation from investors like Booz Allen Ventures and Founders Circle Capital. This comes just six months after the company attracted $35 million, bringing its total new funding to $100 million. According to CEO Jeff Cole, the investment reflects the critical role drones play in modern security.

“In the conflict in Ukraine, drones fundamentally changed warfare,” Cole stated, highlighting the global focus on drone detection technology.

The company’s growth trajectory is impressive. Starting with a handful of employees in 2018, Hidden Level expanded to 25 by 2021, 60 by the end of 2023, and 104 by April 2025. With 19 open positions currently listed in engineering, programming, and operations, the startup is poised for further expansion.

Cutting-Edge Drone Detection Technology

Hidden Level’s systems are designed to detect both conventional drones and “dark drones,” which fly pre-programmed routes without emitting radio frequency (RF) signals. Unlike traditional radar, which struggles with small, low-flying drones due to ground clutter, Hidden Level employs passive radar systems.

“Our technology is all passive,” said Jeff Cole. “It’s very unique because it doesn’t emit a signal.” The company’s antennas “listen” for RF signals used by operators to control drones, triangulating these signals to locate both the drone and its operator. For dark drones, Hidden Level’s tech analyzes other RF and radar signals bouncing off the drones to track them.

This technology has proven versatile. Hidden Level’s antennas, which can be mounted on cell towers, rooftops, or vehicles, are already deployed by the U.S. Army, Air Force, and local agencies to monitor drone threats. The company has also provided systems for major events, including the presidential inauguration in January 2025. Additionally, Hidden Level offers a subscription service to airports, enabling them to monitor commercial airspace for drone incursions at no upfront cost.

Expansion Plans in Syracuse

Hidden Level is deeply rooted in Syracuse, New York, and plans to stay. The company moved in 2021 from a 2,500-square-foot office to a 10,000-square-foot space at 1014 N. Geddes St. Due to space constraints, it opened a second 10,000-square-foot facility on Collamer Road in DeWitt for manufacturing. “We opened that facility and it was immediately too small,” Cole noted. A third 20,000-square-foot (1,860 square meters) manufacturing site is now in the works, set to open by the end of 2025.

The startup is also considering a larger headquarters in Syracuse’s Inner Harbor neighborhood, supported by a $2.5 million state grant and up to $2.5 million in tax credits tied to job creation. “Our end goal is to combine our facilities, a larger facility that will house operations, finance, HR, contract, sales, R&D, manufacturing, production,” Cole explained.

Hidden Level’s growth underscores the increasing need for drone detection as drones become more accessible and pose risks to national security and infrastructure. As Hidden Level expands internationally, its technology could set a new standard for airspace monitoring, balancing innovation with safety in the rapidly evolving drone landscape.

Photo courtesy of Hidden Level, Syracuse.com, Newswire.