Ukrainian Company Swarmer Shocks the Market: Shares Surge by 500%
Ukrainian defense company Swarmer has made headlines after its shares skyrocketed by 500% following its successful debut on the NASDAQ stock exchange earlier this year. This remarkable achievement has drawn attention from industry experts and investors alike.
The Ukrainian defense company Swarmer, which successfully debuted on the American NASDAQ stock exchange in March of this year, deserves special attention and recognition. This sentiment was expressed by Oleksandr Kardakov, the founder of investment firm Octava Capital and an IT millionaire, during an interview with the publication NV, where he shared his impressions of the company's achievements.
Kardakov reminded that Swarmer's shares started at a price of $5 per unit. However, on the very first day of trading, they showed impressive growth, soaring by more than 500% and closing at $31. Today, the company's share price has reached $44, with a market capitalization of approximately $453 million.
"I have great respect for this company. It is beautiful, but it is on the edge of fraud. And who buys the shares? Those who have read about artificial intelligence. For attracting money, it’s already not bad. I admire them like pyramids. But my brain works differently," Kardakov noted, emphasizing that interest in the company's shares is driven, in part, by the new technologies it offers.
Additionally, Kardakov pointed out that the German company Rheinmetall has shown interest in integrating Ukrainian detection algorithms into its mobile air defense systems. This integration would enable automatic targeting of artillery based on the acoustic signature of a target, marking an important step in the development of defense technologies.
When asked about the remarks made by Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, who disparagingly assessed Ukrainian drones by stating that they are created by "housewives with 3D printers," Kardakov expressed his opinion: "50/50. I agree. When [founder of the Center for Aerial Reconnaissance Maria] Berlinska said that drones could be assembled in kitchens, at that moment there were no other drones. Back then, it was genius. It was beneficial. Now, such a kitchen-assembled drone no longer works because more serious fiber optics need to be made. But at that moment, it solved the problem."
Kardakov also commented on the situation with Rheinmetall's orders, noting that the company received a €2.4 billion order for drones from the German government, which they have been unable to fulfill. "So he said this with the calculation that Ukrainian drones would not be bought, so Rheinmetall would receive all this money. He had a clear calculation for that. Today, it was reported that two companies are being given a billion each, while they have €2.4 billion," he emphasized.
Earlier reports indicated that in September 2025, Ukrainian startup Swarmer, which develops artificial intelligence-based solutions for drone autonomy, announced a Series A funding round amounting to $15 million. This marked the largest investment in a Ukrainian defense technology company since the onset of the war.
In March 2026, this deftech startup with Ukrainian roots conducted a highly successful IPO, after which its shares rose by 520%. This indicates a growing interest in Ukrainian technologies in the defense and innovation sectors.