C2GRID didn’t start life as a company with a polished business plan or venture capital pitch. It began at Estonia’s Darkstar Defence Hackathon – an event uniting innovators, veterans, and investors to build technologies that strengthen NATO and its allies. The founders, originally exploring human–robot integration at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech), brought along some ideas around 3D mapping.
Then they met Ukrainian frontline units. Soldiers immediately saw the value – and urgency – behind the concept. In that moment, C2GRID stopped being just a research experiment. It became a mission.
“When someone on the frontline tells you, ‘This could save lives,’ you don’t treat it as an interesting project anymore,” says Vladimir Kuts, co-founder and CEO. “You double down. You build it for them.”
Seeing the Battlefield in 3D
What C2GRID does sounds almost like science fiction: it takes ordinary video footage – most often from drones – and turns it into live, interactive, 3D maps. These aren’t static models; they’re dynamic virtual environments that layer in real-time data, giving commanders, analysts, and operators the kind of situational awareness they used to only dream about.
The magic lies in speed. In minutes, raw video becomes a fully navigable digital twin of a battlefield, enabling faster, more informed decisions. As Vladimir puts it: “We exist to turn raw data into clarity. And in combat, clarity can mean survival.”
Innovation With a Purpose
Plenty of companies talk about innovation, but for C2GRID it’s less about buzzwords and more about necessity. Their Estonian–Ukrainian DNA fuses two worlds: the academic rigor of TalTech’s research community and the hard realities of war.
“Innovation isn’t always about building something shiny and new,” explains Ivan Symotiuk, co-founder and CTO. “It’s about rethinking what’s already possible, and arranging it into a system that helps people in the toughest conditions.”
That philosophy drives their use of advanced AI, multi-sensor fusion, and 3D reconstruction – cutting-edge methods applied with an unusual balance of creativity and practicality.
The Turning Points
C2GRID’s rise has been marked by two defining moments. The first was trust: building genuine, working relationships with Ukrainian soldiers who needed the technology right away. The second was investment: securing funding that allowed the team to stop juggling research and side projects and dedicate themselves fully to scaling the platform.
“We’re building technology for those in critical situations – we want to help people see clearer, act faster, and stay ahead.”
“As soon as those two pieces fell into place,” Vladimir recalls, “it was clear this wasn’t just a proof of concept. We were building something that would grow, evolve, and serve far beyond its original scope.”
A Bigger Map for the Future
Right now, the team is working towards creating a multi-layered battlespace map that can merge video feeds from multiple sources and generate near real-time insights at both the tactical and operational levels.
But their ambition doesn’t stop there. The long-term goal is a platform that pulls together multiple data streams for full situational awareness, including automated mission planning, rehearsal, and even pre-mission simulation.
“The battlefield of the future isn’t going to be a flat map with dots and lines on it,” says Heiti Kruusmaa, co-founder and COO. “It’s going to be a living, breathing digital environment that reflects reality second by second.”
Beyond Defense
Although defense remains at C2GRID’s heart, the potential for dual-use applications is obvious. Disaster response teams could use the same tools to assess earthquake damage or plan safe routes. Energy companies could protect critical infrastructure. Builders could plan and monitor complex construction projects with an entirely new level of precision.
“We may have started with military use-cases, but the idea was never confined there,” says Ivan. “Anywhere rapid, accurate situational awareness matters, C2GRID belongs.”
Estonia’s Edge in Innovation
As a TalTech spin-off, C2GRID represents the best of Estonia’s innovation spirit: nimble, collaborative, and outward-looking. The company actively shares field data with researchers, contributes to defense innovation programs, and works with European initiatives such as NATO DIANA and the European Defence Fund.
“This is about more than just our company,” Heiti emphasizes. “It’s about making sure Estonia, Ukraine, and our allies are always ahead of the curve.”
Mission Above All
Even as the company expands across Europe and looks toward civilian applications, its origin story continues to define it. C2GRID was shaped alongside Ukrainian defenders, and their needs remain central.
By turning video into 3D intelligence in near real-time, C2GRID gives commanders, soldiers, and first responders something invaluable: the ability to act with confidence in uncertain, high-stakes situations.
“We’re building technology for those in critical situations,” Vladimir says. “We want to help people see clearer, act faster, and stay ahead.”
