Tesseract Ventures developing SWARM drone technology for US Special Operations Forces
May 2, 2024 | Startland Staff
A just-announced contract with the U.S. military will fund the development of an Overland Park company’s next-generation warfare drone, said founder and robotics technologist John Boucard.
The SWARM (Special Warfighter Assistive Robotic Machine) is set to revolutionize military operations by offering a new, much-needed capability: a highly versatile nano drone equipped with smart payload and interoperability across multiple systems, said Boucard, CEO at Tesseract Ventures.
The future-building technology’s rollout is made possible thanks to an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) from the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).
“With the SWARM, Tesseract Ventures is not just introducing a new product; we are ushering in a new era in military technology,” Boucard said. “This technology is a game-changer for SOF personnel, enabling technological advantages previously unavailable on a single platform. Our commitment to innovation is reflected in the SWARM, offering enhanced capabilities and strategic benefits to our Special Operations Forces.”
The SWARM announcement is the latest in a series of contracts and projects within the national defense vertical that has propelled Tesseract Ventures into a leading tech solution for military applications. The company is based in Overland Park with its defense studio in Tampa, Florida.
Its pioneering SWARM technology can potentially give Special Operations Command warfighters an edge in surveillance, and tactical response operations, he emphasized.
The SWARM system includes a Nano First Person View (FPV) Drone, a Smart Payload System, and Smart Payloads. Equipped with a multi-function camera system with high-res, night, and thermal capabilities, SWARM’s super-compact drone is designed for rapid deployment in any situation.
Working solo or in groups, it can perform critical tasks such as landing or dropping payloads that can work to protect troops from threats such as enemy combatants, gas, radiation, and more. Designed for adaptability, the payload system can be equipped with explosive charges for precise strikes against enemy assets and infrastructure.Founded in 2018 by Boucard, a veteran inventor, engineer, and technologist to recruit the smartest minds in robotics, defense, and critical infrastructure, Tesseract Ventures enables businesses to defy the boundaries of space and time through next-generation technologies.
“Robots, smart spaces, wearables, and radically connected platforms are just some of the tools Tesseract created to make American industries smarter, better connected, and more efficient,” the company said in a press release.

2024 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
KC nonprofit leader will advise FCC committee on broadband
The leader of an area nonprofit focused on making Kansas City a digital leader will be offering his broadband expertise to a Federal Communications Commission committee. KC Digital Drive managing director Aaron Deacon was recently appointed to a group within the Federal Communications Commission’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee. Deacon’s group — Competitive Access to Broadband…
Bringing grub to KC food deserts, Rollin’ Grocer to expand impact after contest win
While he takes pride in his roots, Priest Hughes said it saddens him to see a staple of life — fresh food — become so difficult to attain in parts of Kansas City. Over the course of a decade, Hughes has noticed several grocery stores in his neighborhood close at an alarming rate. Purchasing fresh,…
Truck-sharing app Bungii hauling early success, eyeing expansion
Less than a year after its launch, Kansas City-based truck-sharing app Bungii is gaining significant traction. In addition to expanding its platform from only Kansas City to include Lawrence, Bungii has tapped hundreds of users that temporarily need a truck to haul their stuff. Led by two recent college graduates, Ben Jackson and Harrison Proffitt, Bungii’s on-demand…
Kauffman Foundation: National startup activity continues to improve
National startup activity grew slightly in 2016, a consecutive three-year improvement that reached pre-Great Recession levels, according to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. However, in the long-term view startup activity is still in decline when compared to the 1980s, the 2017 Kauffman Index of Startup Activity found. Victor Hwang, vice president of entrepreneurship at the…

