ACTivate Capital backs Seitec's AUD $4m defence deal

ACTivate Capital has led an AUD $4 million investment in Canberra defence technology company Seitec. The round also included Beaten Zone Venture Partners and the University of New South Wales.

ACTivate Capital invested AUD $1.5 million from its AUD $23 million fund in the company, which develops passive sensing technology for defence, security and critical infrastructure customers. The funding will support team growth, product development and Seitec's expansion into overseas markets.

Seitec was founded in Canberra by former Royal Australian Air Force veteran Daniel Stevens. The business grew from work on sensing systems designed to detect, classify and monitor activity in contested environments without revealing a user's position.

The deal adds to a broader flow of private investment into Australian defence technology companies pursuing export growth. It also reflects rising interest in businesses that can serve allied markets beyond Australia.

Mick Cardew Hall, Chairman of ACTivate Capital, said the investment aligned with the fund's remit in the Canberra market.

"Seitec represents exactly the type of company ACTivate Capital was established to back. It's an ACT company with globally competitive technology, early customer validation and the potential to become a sovereign defence capability with international reach," Hall said.

ACTivate Capital was established as a Canberra-focused venture capital fund, backed by partners including the ACT Government as a cornerstone investor. It invests across sectors including defence, quantum, clean energy, advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence.

Export focus

The investment comes as export growth becomes a more prominent theme in Australia's defence industry policy. The 2026 Defence Industry Development Strategy identifies exports as important to sustaining and expanding the country's domestic defence industrial base.

Hall said domestic demand alone would not be enough for the sector.

"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, strengthening sovereign capability while creating export opportunities and high-value jobs here in Canberra," he said.

Hall said the fund intended to work with the company as it expanded.

"We're delighted to be leading this investment and look forward to working closely with Daniel and the team as they scale," he said.

Operational roots

Stevens said the company grew out of practical problems faced by defence operators. That background helped shape the development of its sensing systems for use in difficult operating conditions.

"Seitec started because existing sensors kept failing in environments where failure isn't an option. Our technology gives defence and government agencies earlier detection and reduced risk," said Daniel Stevens, Chief Executive Officer of Seitec.

The company now sells into defence, security and critical infrastructure markets, reflecting a customer base broader than military users alone. Its backers are betting that demand from allied nations will support the next stage of growth.

"We began as an Australian SME solving a defence problem and have evolved into a global-leading technology provider to defence, security and critical infrastructure sectors," Stevens said.

The new capital will help Seitec expand its Canberra team and deepen its presence in key overseas markets. The company also plans to continue developing its sensing technology as it grows internationally.

"With ACTivate Capital's support, we can accelerate our international expansion, grow our Canberra-based team and continue developing technology that provides our customers with differentiated solutions in the world's most challenging environments," Stevens said.