Opening Remarks from the Resilience Media Founders

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Returning for a second year, Resilience Media and Dealroom present a joint report on the state of the defence tech sector, looking at the data behind the industry and the trends from the last year.

Networking Break

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Innovation in defence is more than new technology. It’s about how militaries fight, how they adapt, and the policies and structures that make progress possible. This panel cuts through the buzzwords to explore the real drivers of defence innovation — from breakthrough technologies to tactical change and organisational reform. Speakers will ask what best practice looks like today, what lessons are transferable, and where we are still falling short in preparing for the future fight.

Nowhere is defence innovation moving faster than on the Ukrainian battlefield. From identifying urgent needs to testing prototypes under fire to signing contracts with brigades, Ukraine has developed a unique, full-cycle model of defence technology adoption — at speed and scale.

Moderated by Eveline Buchatskiy, this panel brings together Oleksandr Vorobiov (Air Defense Training Department, 3rd Army Corps), Volodymyr Gorodnychyi (Nemesis Regiment, Unmanned Systems Forces), and Artem Klimin (Snake Island Institute) to share how Ukraine is integrating new technologies directly into the fight. They will discuss what capabilities are most urgently needed today, how the enemy is adapting, and how Ukraine stays ahead of the curve.

For attendees, this is a rare opportunity to hear from those building, testing, and deploying technology in real time — and to understand what lessons allies and industry should learn from Ukraine’s approach to innovation under fire.

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Europe’s defence tech ecosystem is taking shape at speed — from Ukraine to the Nordics. In this fireside chat, Ragnar Sass (Darkstar) shares lessons from Estonia’s transformation, Ukraine’s volunteer-driven innovation, and Darkstar’s role in building a pan-European community of defence founders and investors. Expect a candid look at how Europe can scale defence innovation, and why ecosystems — not just companies — will define the future of security.

Lunch

Software is reshaping aerospace and defence, with AI-driven simulation and digital engineering accelerating how complex systems are designed and delivered. In this fireside chat, Jacomo Corbo (PhysicsX) and Massimo Maroni (Leonardo) share how startups and primes can collaborate to make this shift real. From proof-of-concept to scale, they’ll explore what it takes to embed cutting-edge software into aerospace programmes and why these partnerships are key to the future of defence innovation.

Launch is the premier startup showcase for early-stage defence and security startups to debut their groundbreaking technologies. Five companies will showcase their technology on stage, then demo during the following networking break.

Networking Break

What does hypersonics reveal about the way defence innovates? In this fireside chat, Zach Shore (Hermeus) argues the barriers aren’t only technical — they’re cultural. Drawing on experience at Hermeus, Anduril, and in uniform, he’ll explore the need for faster adoption, younger leadership, and building integrated systems rather than stand-alone technologies. Expect a provocative look at hypersonics as a case study in the future of defence innovation.

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Europe’s security challenge is no longer abstract — it is urgent. While Russia escalates, Europe remains heavily dependent on U.S. technologies, a gap that will only widen as software becomes central to defence and industry alike. In this double fireside chat, Jeannette zu Fürstenberg (General Catalyst) and Torsten Reil (Helsing) share the security and economic advantages of building core sovereign European technology — and for governments to move beyond rhetoric and funding announcements to real contracts and scalable programmes. They’ll explore how Europe can mobilise faster, create buy-in across society, and build the capabilities that will matter in the next six to twelve months, not just the next decade. Expect a candid conversation about urgency, sovereignty, and what it will take to ensure Europe is ready.

The battlefield is changing fast — and not just in Ukraine. From the Finnish-Russian border to NATO’s Eastern Flank, Europe is preparing for a new era of conflict. This panel looks ahead to the wars of tomorrow: what will they look like, and how will militaries adapt? Speakers will explore how autonomy, drones, and AI are reshaping tactics, how advanced technology integrates with conventional hardware, and how troops must be trained for a radically different fight.

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End of sessions and drinks reception

Opening Remarks from the Resilience Media co-founders

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Startups can build brilliant prototypes — but how do those innovations become trusted tools for militaries and industry partners? NATO is experimenting with a new model to answer that question. This panel brings together two leaders at the forefront of the effort: Ryan Benitez, Chief Commercial Officer of NATO DIANA, and John Ridge, Chief Adoption Officer of the NATO Innovation Fund. Their roles are the first of their kind in the startup ecosystem — focused on connecting startups with the networks, customers, and pathways needed for adoption. In this conversation, they’ll explore why bridging the gap between innovation and operational use matters now more than ever, what NATO is doing differently, and what lessons wider industry and government can draw from their approach.

For years, most venture capital in defence focused on “dual-use” technologies, skirting the political and financial barriers around pure-play defence startups. That era is ending. Today, a new generation of defence-first funds are raising capital with a clear mandate: invest directly in companies building for security and deterrence. Equally striking, some limited partners now refuse to back funds unless defence is part of the portfolio.

This panel brings together Lital Leshem (Protego Ventures), Nicholas Nelson (Archangel), and Sille Pettai (SmartCap) to explore how this shift is reshaping venture capital in NATO countries. They’ll discuss what kinds of startups are now fundable, how LP sentiment is changing, and what this means for the future of innovation and the defence of democracy.

Networking break

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In this conversation, Mikołaj Firlej will share how mission drives Expeditions’ investment thesis, what the team has learned from reviewing hundreds of defence tech startups, and why they’ve already backed many of the companies shaping NATO’s future. Expect candid insights on what makes a great defence startup, how investors assess deal flow, and which countries are getting procurement and innovation right. For founders and policymakers alike, this is a rare window into how capital is being mobilised to strengthen Europe’s security.

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Russia’s September 2025 test of NATO has made it clear: Europe must invest in defence innovation at scale. In this panel, Uwe Horstmann (Project A), Chris Magazzeni (Lakestar), and Kerry Baldwin (IQ Capital) will discuss how European funds can move beyond fragmented, national approaches to support defence startups across borders. Expect a candid conversation about capital, collaboration, and Europe’s responsibility to strengthen deterrence in an era of renewed threat.

Lunch

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The battlefield is changing fast — and not just in Ukraine. From the Finnish-Russian border to NATO’s Eastern Flank, Europe is preparing for a new era of conflict. This panel looks ahead to the wars of tomorrow: what will they look like, and how will militaries adapt? Speakers will explore how autonomy, drones, and AI are reshaping tactics, how advanced technology integrates with conventional hardware, and how troops must be trained for a radically different fight.

Launch is the premier startup showcase for early-stage defence and security startups to debut their groundbreaking technologies. Five companies will showcase their technology on stage, then demo during the following networking break.

Networking break

Coming soon.

General Sir Richard Barrons and Grace Cassy offer a frank progress check on the UK Strategic Defence Review. They’ll also outline what industry must get right—cross-border customers, coherent architectures, realistic timelines—to see adoption at scale. A clear-eyed guide to what’s working, what isn’t, and what must happen next.

Coming soon.

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Ukraine’s war has shown that defence innovation is about far more than drones. On the front line, nothing works at first — constant adaptation, decentralisation, and iteration are essential. Our panelists will share what NATO countries are missing: from open-source tools and agile procurement to the role of foundations and frontline innovation. A candid look at what Western militaries must learn from Ukraine. Additional speakers to be announced soon.

Coming soon.