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Helsing vs Notion

Side-by-side on valuation, funding, investors, founders & more

Comparison updated: April 2026

Neck and neck — Helsing ($12B) and Notion ($11B) are valued within 20% of each other.

Head-to-Head Verdict

Notion leads on 3 of 5 metrics

Helsing

2 wins

+Valuation
+Funding
-Awaira Score
-Team Size
-Experience

Notion

3 wins

-Valuation
-Funding
+Awaira Score
+Team Size
+Experience

Key Numbers

Valuation
$12B
$11B
Total Funding
$1.6B
$418M
Awaira Score
68/100
91/100
Employees
100-500
2500
Founded
2021
2013
Stage
Series D
Private
HelsingNotion
Helsing logo
Helsing

🇩🇪 Germany · Gundbert Scherf

Series DEnterprise AIEst. 2021

Valuation

$12B

Total Funding

$1.6B

Awaira Score68/100

100-500 employees

Full Helsing Profile →
Winner
Notion logo
Notion

🇺🇸 United States · Ivan Zhao

PrivateEnterprise AIEst. 2013

Valuation

$11B

Total Funding

$418M

Awaira Score91/100

2500 employees

Full Notion Profile →
Market Context

Both companies compete in the Enterprise AI space, though from different geographies — Helsing in Germany and Notion in United States. Different stages (Series D vs Private) mean these companies face fundamentally different operational priorities.

🔬

Analyst Summary

Built from real data · Updated April 2026

Companies

Helsing and Notion are direct competitors in Enterprise AI. Helsing develops AI software for defence and intelligence applications, building real-time signal processing and sensor fusion systems that enhance situational awareness for military operators across air, land, and electronic warfare domains. Notion is a workspace productivity platform founded in 2013 that combines database management, document editing, and project management capabilities.

Funding & Valuation

The two trade at comparable valuations — Helsing at $12B versus Notion at $11B. Helsing has amassed $1.6B in total funding, far exceeding Notion's $418M.

Growth Stage

Helsing is the younger company by 8 years, having launched in 2021 compared to Notion's 2013 founding. Stage-wise, Helsing is classified as Series D and Notion as Private, reflecting divergent fundraising histories. Team sizes also differ: Helsing employs 100-500 people versus Notion's 2500.

Geography & Outlook

Based in 🇩🇪 Germany and 🇺🇸 United States respectively, Helsing and Notion tap into different talent markets and regulatory environments. On Awaira's 0-100 scale, Notion leads decisively at 91 compared to Helsing's 68. Under Gundbert Scherf and Ivan Zhao respectively, both companies continue to chart aggressive growth paths.

Funding Velocity

Helsing

Total Rounds1
Avg. Round Size$209M

Notion

Total Rounds4
Avg. Round Size$84.3M
Funding Span8.6 yrs

Funding History

Helsing has completed 1 funding round, while Notion has gone through 4. Helsing's most recent round was a Series B of $209M, compared to Notion's Series C ($275M). Helsing is at Series D while Notion is at Private — different points in their growth trajectory.

Team & Scale

Notion has the bigger team at roughly 2500 people — 25x the size of Helsing's 100-500. Notion has a 8-year head start, founded in 2013 vs Helsing's 2021. Geographically, they're in different markets — Helsing operates out of Germany and Notion from United States.

Metrics Comparison

MetricHelsingNotion
💰Valuation
$12BWINS
$11B
📈Total Funding
$1.6BWINS
$418M
📅Founded
2021WINS
2013
🚀Stage
Series D
Private
👥Employees
100-500
2500
🌍Country
Germany
United States
🏷️Category
Enterprise AI
Enterprise AI
Awaira Score
68
91WINS

Key Differences

💰

Valuation gap: Helsing is valued 1.1x higher ($12B vs $11B)

📈

Funding gap: Helsing has raised $1.2B more ($1.6B vs $418M)

📅

Market experience: Notion has 8 years more (founded 2013 vs 2021)

🚀

Growth stage: Helsing is at Series D vs Notion at Private

👥

Team size: Helsing has 100-500 employees vs Notion's 2500

🌍

Market base: 🇩🇪 Helsing (Germany) vs 🇺🇸 Notion (United States)

⚔️

Direct competitors: Both operate in the Enterprise AI market segment

Awaira Score: Notion scores 91/100 vs Helsing's 68/100

Which Should You Choose?

Use these signals to make the right call

Helsing logo

Choose Helsing if…

  • More established by valuation ($12B)
  • Stronger investor backing — raised $1.6B
  • Germany-based for regional compliance or proximity
  • Helsing develops AI software for defence and intelligence applications, building real-time signal processing and sensor fusion systems that enhance situational awareness for military operators across air, land, and electronic warfare domains
Notion logo

Choose Notion if…

Top Pick
  • Higher Awaira Score — 91/100 vs 68/100
  • More market experience — founded in 2013
  • United States-based for regional compliance or proximity
  • Notion is a workspace productivity platform founded in 2013 that combines database management, document editing, and project management capabilities

Funding History

Helsing raised $1.6B across 1 round. Notion raised $418M across 4 rounds.

Helsing

Series B

Sep 2023

Lead: General Catalyst

$209M

Notion

Series C

Oct 2021

Lead: Coatue Management

$275M

Series B

Apr 2020

Lead: Sequoia Capital

$50M

Series A

Jan 2017

Lead: Kleiner Perkins

$10M

Seed

Mar 2013

$2M

Investor Comparison

No shared investors detected between these two companies.

Unique to Helsing

General CatalystSpotify foundersDaniel Ek

Unique to Notion

Coatue ManagementSapphire VenturesTiger GlobalSequoia CapitalKleiner Perkins

Users Also Compare

FAQ — Helsing vs Notion

Is Helsing bigger than Notion?
By valuation, Helsing is the larger company at $12B versus $11B — a 1.1x difference. Size can also be measured by team: Helsing employs 100-500 people while Notion has 2500 employees.
Which company raised more funding — Helsing or Notion?
Helsing has raised more in total funding at $1.6B, compared to Notion's $418M — a gap of $1.2B. Combined, the two companies have completed 5 known funding rounds.
Which company has a higher Awaira Score?
Notion leads with an Awaira Score of 91/100, while Helsing sits at 68/100. That 23-point gap reflects real differences in funding, scale, and traction — it's not a vanity metric.
Who founded Helsing vs Notion?
Helsing was founded by Gundbert Scherf in 2021. Notion was founded by Ivan Zhao in 2013. Visit each company's profile on Awaira for a full founder biography.
What does Helsing do vs Notion?
Helsing: Helsing develops AI software for defence and intelligence applications, building real-time signal processing and sensor fusion systems that enhance situational awareness for military operators across air, land, and electronic warfare domains. The Munich and London company applies deep learning to radar, sonar, and other sensor data streams to identify threats, classify targets, and support human decision-making in time-critical operational environments. Helsing has secured contracts with the German Bundeswehr and other NATO member defence ministries, providing AI-enhanced signal processing modules that integrate with existing military sensor infrastructure. The company has attracted substantial funding from investors including General Catalyst, Accel, Lightspeed Ventures, and Prima Materia (Spotify co-founder Daniel Ek's firm), making it one of the most well-funded European defence technology companies. Helsing operates in the European defence AI market, which has expanded rapidly following the Russian invasion of Ukraine as NATO governments accelerated defence modernisation spending and AI integration into military systems. The company competes with Palantir, Anduril, and Shield AI in the broader defence AI space while occupying a specifically European market position that addresses sovereignty concerns about deploying US-based AI systems in sensitive military applications. Helsing's explicitly European identity and compliance with EU data handling requirements give it access to defence contracts where non-European vendors face security vetting barriers. Notion: Notion is a workspace productivity platform founded in 2013 that combines database management, document editing, and project management capabilities. The company has evolved from a note-taking application into an all-in-one workspace that integrates AI features for content generation, summarization, and automation. Notion's core product allows users to create customizable databases, wikis, and workflow systems without requiring extensive coding knowledge. The platform serves individual users, small teams, and enterprises seeking centralized workspace solutions. Notion's AI capabilities assist with writing, editing, and task automation, positioning it within the enterprise AI category. The company competes with tools like Microsoft Teams, Asana, Monday.com, and Confluence, differentiating through flexible database architecture and extensive customization options. Notion has achieved a valuation of $11.0 billion as a private company with $418 million in total funding. The company generates revenue through subscription tiers and enterprise licensing. Notable adoption spans startups, creative agencies, and Fortune 500 companies managing documentation and project workflows. Notion's growth trajectory reflects increasing demand for integrated workspace solutions combining collaboration, AI, and data management capabilities. Notion's differentiation lies in its block-based architecture that allows users to build customized workspaces combining databases, documents, and AI assistance without technical expertise. Notion operates in the Enterprise AI sector and is headquartered in United States. Founded in 2013 by Ivan Zhao, Notion has raised $418M in total funding, achieving a valuation of $11B as of its latest round. The company's funding journey includes a Seed of $2M in 2013, a Series A of $10M in 2017, a Series B of $50M in 2020, a Series C of $275M in 2021. The most recent round was led by Coatue Management. With approximately 2500 employees, Notion has established itself as a Private-stage player in the Enterprise AI market. The company holds an Awaira Score of 91/100, reflecting its strong position across valuation, funding trajectory, team scale, and market influence. Notion competes in a rapidly evolving segment alongside other Enterprise AI companies. Based in United States, Notion is part of a growing international AI ecosystem attracting talent and investment. The Enterprise AI space has attracted significant investment in recent years, with companies racing to capture enterprise and consumer demand for AI-powered solutions.
Which company was founded first?
Notion got there first, launching in 2013 — that's 8 years of extra runway. Helsing didn't arrive until 2021. In AI, that kind of head start means more training data, deeper customer relationships, and a bigger talent moat.
Which company has more employees?
Helsing has about 100-500 employees; Notion has about 2500. A bigger team usually means more revenue or heavier VC backing, but in AI, small teams can build at massive scale.
Are Helsing and Notion competitors?
Yes — they're direct rivals. Both Helsing and Notion compete in Enterprise AI, targeting many of the same buyers. If you're evaluating one, you should be looking at the other.

Bottom Line

Notion has a clear lead here — Awaira Score of 91 vs Helsing's 68. The difference comes down to market positioning and team scale.

Who Should You Watch?

Notion has a slight edge on paper, but Helsing isn't far behind. The AI space moves fast — today's underdog can be tomorrow's category leader. Follow both profiles on Awaira to track funding rounds, team changes, and score updates.

Deep Dive