Stanhope AI, a London-based deep tech startup pioneering brain-inspired artificial intelligence, has closed an $8m (£6m) seed funding round.
The round attracted a transatlantic cohort of investors led by Frontline Ventures, with participation from Paladin Capital Group and Auxxo Female Catalyst Fund, and follow-on investment from UCL Technology Fund and MMC Ventures.
Professor Rosalyn Moran, CEO and co-founder of Stanhope AI, said: “We’re moving from language-based AI to intelligence that possesses the ability to act to understand its world – a system with a fundamental agency.
“Our approach doesn’t just process words, it understands context, uncertainty, and physical reality.”
Stanhope AI building algorithms that ‘learn like the human brain’
Stanhope AI was founded in 2023 and was spin-out from University College London and King’s College London.
It was co-founded by neuroscientists Professor Rosalyn Moran, and Professor Karl Friston.
Stanhope AI’s technology is already being tested in autonomous drone and robotics applications with international partners, teaching machines to behave more intelligently in unpredictable, real-world environments.
Global shift in AI
The investment comes amid a global shift from cloud-based AI to on-device systems.
Stanhope AI’s lean, explainable models can run efficiently on-device, using minimal data and energy. This enables deployment in autonomous systems, defence technology, industrial automation, and embedded devices, where efficiency and reliability are mission critical.
Zoe Chambers, partner at Frontline Ventures, said: “Their pace of execution, from academic research papers to a system that works safely at the edge, is both rare and deeply significant.
“The future of physical AI demands systems that can truly adapt in real-time. The team at Stanhope AI are bringing a unique scientific approach to deliver exactly that, and are already proving themselves in high-stakes, real-world applications.”
Christopher Steed, chief investment officer and managing director at Paladin Capital Group, said: “We are excited to support Stanhope AI as they redefine the boundaries of machine intelligence.
“Their technology showcases the next evolution of AI – intelligent systems that can operate with autonomy, efficiency, and resilience across real-world domains.
“This aligns strongly with our mission to back innovations that strengthen and secure critical technologies globally.”
Stanhope AI’s approach has already drawn attention from international defence and aerospace organisations, where reliability under uncertain conditions is paramount.
With this new funding, the company is poised to scale its partnerships and field trials across multiple high-impact sectors in 2026.