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Today mark three years since Russia ’s illegal , motiveless , and brutalinvasion of Ukraine . The Ukrainian mass have heroically fought the war with guts and decision , but they have also , against the odds , innovated on and off the battlefield .
In accession to constitute a defense tech initiative calledBRAVE1 , the country has also hostedtech league likeIT Arena , even amid the job because of the warfare .
Ukraine is now the leader in AI - enabled drone engineering science and has become a magnet for Western companionship and investors keen to defend the country , and Europe . But is it enough ? If the late news is anything to go by , Europe is only now waking up to the fact that it will have to get closer than ever before to Ukraine if it is to keep and defend its own security measures .
A recentreportby VC investor Lakestar warn that Europe is facing its big threat in decennium . Observers guess it will take Russia two to eight years to rebuild its ground forces to the percentage point where it could make bold to attack Europe , but European NATO allies are not doing enough to build a believable deterrent and have even scaled back defence spending by 30 % since the nineties . Meanwhile , the industry ’s current yield and imports are at only a fraction of stemma levels . At the same time , European investment funds in R&D is only one - tenth of the disbursement in the U.S.
Speaking entirely to Lakestar ’s Klaus Hommels at last month ’s DLD conference , Hommels assure TechCrunch : “ You do n’t ask to have a witching ball to see that the Europeans need to put a slew of money into the defense sector . ” For that to happen , he said , enterpriser require to see that there is fund available , then VCs will originate to see startup seem : “ Secondly , you needed some success stories , which you now have . ”
“ At the death , it is about sovereignty . If you do n’t equip , if you do n’t invest , then you wo n’t have that sovereignty , ” he added .
That is likely happening . With Trump indicate that Europe is going to be on its own , European defense Primes are heave , while European VCs are investing .
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A billion dollar bill of speculation capital was invested into European defense engineering science in 2024 , a first for the continent , and a fivefold increase since 2018,accordingto Dealroom . VC investment into defense - link technical school is outpacing any other type of investment funds , and the volume of that is going into startups in Germany , the U.K. , and France .
We also now have specialist defence mechanism technical school funds , with the € 1 billion Nato Innovation Fund and thenewEstonian SmartCap € 100 million defence fund . Helsing , the U.K./German defense tech startup endorse by Spotify ’s Daniel Ek and others , is now producingstrike dronesat volume and plans to build multiple factories around Europe .
But to commit in the right technology , Europe will have to face to Ukraine , because that is where succeeding wars are being struggle right now .
TechCrunch recently put a call out for Ukrainian dual - utilization and defense tech startups to update us on what they are do work on . Below is what they sent us , in their own Word .
Technary
double use : “ cover the challenges of intercepting low - flying drones that are insensible by radiolocation . approve by the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine . Civilians use an app to describe drones , rockets , or planes directly to the war machine .
founder : Hennadii Suldyn , Andriy Kosyak
Funding : Bootstrapped
Dropla
two-fold utilisation : De - mining surgical operation is difficult . This Ukrainian - Danish company has delivered in the first level of ESA ARTES platform . It uses a fleet of UAVs equip with multi - average sensors and then use cheap UGVs ( unmanned ground vehicles ) to confirm the noncontaminated area . The company has a contract with the European Space Agency , has been through a EU robotics gas pedal , and is tolerate by the Export / Import Fund of Denmark . It now has the biggest training dataset for landmine detection in Europe .
Founders : Undisclosed for security department reasons .
backing : € 1 million from Danish and German angel .
SOC Prime
duple use of goods and services : “ AI agnostical compute efficient blood speed collective menace detection ecosystem . ” This competes with SnapAttack , Cyborg Security , and CardinalOps . A heavy individual dataset of 1 million detection rule and 13,000 labels . Aimed at the cyber defending team of company that have expert innovation in a particular niche ( DFIR , CTEM , SIEM , etc . ) .
Founders : Andrii Bezverkhyi , Alex Bredikhin , and Ruslan Mikhalov
support : $ 11.5 m from DNX Ventures , Streamlined Ventures , Rembrandt Capital , Atlantic Bridge , J - Ventures , Tom Reilly , Greg Martin , Slavik Markovich , Mahendra Ramsinghani
Swarmer
Dual consumption : This “ is for operating drone swarms . In today ’s field , operating drone cloud is manpower - intensive and inefficient . Traditional approaches need a swarm of pilot . But single operators are overload . ” Recently returned from SRI Deep Tech Accelerator program in El Segundo . finalist of DIGITALEUROPE ’s Future Unicorn Awards as a dual - function technical school ship’s company in Brussels . Battlefield - proven since August 2023 with over 32,000 combat charge to appointment .
Founders : Sergey Kuprienko ( contribute AI and information processing system vision squad at Ring.com , with 500 + people ) ; Alex Fink ( former VP of engineering science at Orah VR )
financial backing : $ 3 million
Kraken
double use : “ Kraken is a multi - usage intercrossed USV / UUV drone with AI capacity for persistent and prospicient - ambit submersed base monitoring and defense diligence , enable automated missions in GPS - denied environment without lineal ascendence from the operator . ”
Founders : Pavel Panasjuk , Oleksandr Kvasha
Funding:“MITS VC + 2 holy man ”
Skyeton
twofold utilization : “ A gliding munition , and a melody of GLE , multi - mission gimbals . Raybird now can notice , illuminate , strike , return , and re-arm — all in one mission oscillation . A sub-25 kg EW - sustainable platform able to acquit a loitering munition deep into the opposition ’s territory . Equipped with a farsighted - range optical maser designator . The laser illumination system allows precise targeting for guide weaponry and weapon . Already been tested in combat conditions and is now operating on the front line .
Founders : Alex Stepura
financial backing : Karbon gift
Ailand Systems
two-fold use : Agriculture drones but also landmine detection using drones , reach de - excavation cognitive operation faster , chintzy , and safer .
father : Dmytro Titov , Heorhii Shakula
Funding : $ 425,000 via D3 Fund , Nezlamni Fund , Google for Startups
Anima
Dual usage : Anima addresses the inefficiencies of traditional genial wellness assessment , which have gamy false - convinced rates ( 30%–80 % ) and rely on immanent self - reporting , leading to stigma , underreporting , misdiagnosis , and unneeded treatment . It has nail PTSD and concussion enquiry and is now educate a product in this expanse .
Founders : Roman Havrysh , Sergiy Danylov
Funding : Anima has parent $ 340,000 in pre - seed financing and is presently seeking an extra $ 500,000 to endorse ontogeny and development .
Aspichi
Dual use : We ’re developing a VR software with education and genial wellness drill to fight PTSD .
Founders : Viktor Samoilenko , Max Goncharuk
Funding : $ 780,000 from SMRK.vc , ZAS Ventures , Catalyst Impact Investment Club Syndicate
FuelWell
Dual use : A plug - in equipment , fuel promotor , installed on the fuel system of internal - combustion engines . It cut fuel pulmonary tuberculosis by up to 20 % and CO2 emissions by 15 % , PM soot particles by 90 % . The ordinary pickup motortruck lose up to $ 1,000 a year from misfortunate combustion . A motortruck in logistics lose up to $ 11,000 a year . Selected to participate in the EIT Mobility acceleration .
founder : Serhii Dubinevych
Laser Guard Systems
Dual use : We are solving the job of vulnerable trade protection against drone pipe onset and ground trespass by recrudesce an autonomous counter - intrusion platform that detects , rails , and neutralizes ethereal and ground threats using AI , thermal visual modality , and advanced defense mechanism . “ Our system are actively protecting the Kyiv Hydroelectric Station and plug vital areas in the compass north and due south of Ukraine from drone approach . ”
financial support : In the process of closing an investiture stave .
HIMERA
Dual use of goods and services : Existing battlefield communicating systems never unite relevant , reliable , battle - proven functionality with affordability and scalability . This lead to a situation where the tactical comms uncommitted to troops are undependable or often unavailable in sufficient numbers , lead to pricey inefficiencies in combat trading operations . Using off - the - ledge components , we fork out a tactical transmitting system with secure , struggle - prove functionality , including AES-256 encryption , MANET , and frequency - hopping . The Boryviter Center of Excellence in Ukraine , which trained more than 27,000 Ukrainian soldiers to pilot drones and use communications equipment , admit HIMERA tactical communicating products in its steady preparation program this hebdomad .
Founders : Alex Oliinyk , Kyrylo Skyba , Misha Rudominski
Funding : $ 1.2 million Freedom Fund VC , United Angels connection , Andriy Skoropad , Arnaud Dassier , Green Flag Ventures , Nezlamni Fund , Dave Morgan
Strategy Force Solution
defence reaction tech : Mafka AI solves the trouble of manual trailer surgical process limitations by enabling in full self-directed missions that are immune to electronic war ( EW ) and GPS - independent . We simulate a pilot ’s behavior based on the mission goal and environmental analysis . Our AI treat road planning , obstacle avoidance , and target spying , opine like a real pilot film put to death a task . It carry off the need for a skilled operator , reducing human error , reaction time , and operational costs , while ensure drone can execute missions even in hostile surround . Completed the SRI University acceleration program in the U.S. in January . complete a bootcamp with MITS Capital . presently raising investment funds to bug out production . ”
backing : Received a grant from Brave1 .
Terminal Autonomy
Defense : secure largest NATO contract bridge for loitering munitions . AI enabled loitering munitions . descale to the largest NATO contract for this family , first lethal lagger procured by Germany .
founder : Roman Antonov , Francisco Serra - martins
financial backing : CADG , Serra de Estela investments ltd
Buntar Aerospace
defensive structure : Buntar Aerospace delivers a holistic resolution that combines UAV survivability with AI - driven operational support , ensuring that reconnaissance mission teams can gather actionable intelligence expeditiously and safely , even in the most challenging environments . We ’ve just launched a new mannikin with twice the trajectory time . Buntar 3 is a UAV designed for long - duration flights and stable performance in challenging shape . Buntar Copilot is an AI - driven restraint and coordination organization that enable a “ carousel ” operation model .
founding father : Ivan Kaunov , Bohdan Sas , Kateryna Bezsudna
Funding : $ 3.2 million punt by a commixture of speculation funds and private investor from the United States , Ukraine , and Europe . D3 , Sukna Ventures , Nezlamni , and others .
NORDA Dynamics
Defense : Low FPV efficiency . arise self-direction module for all types of mass - market UAVs . It increases efficiency from 30 % to 80 % , which could save Ukraine approximately $ 750 million every year . beginner mostly engineers , all Ukrainians with over 10 year of experience help Ukrainian armed forces .
Founders : Undisclosed for security system reason .
financial support : MITS capital , few angel finances , $ 250,000
Clarity
Defense Department : Analyzes great total of airy reconnaissance data from the field of honor . gain ground the pitching contest at the Defense Tech Innovations Forum 2025 in Kyiv , Trailblazers class . use AI fashion model trained on the actual battlefield reconnaissance datum gathered by the Armed Forces of Ukraine .
Funding : Bootstrapped
OpenMinds
Defense : Russia and China spend around $ 12 billion per year to spread their influence and propaganda worldwide , disrupt election , and falsify public opinion . OpenMinds help foresee these threats . We abide diplomatical and national security sectors with threat intelligence and depth psychology of high - risk and censored environments , find influence operation and helping perform the tabulator - influence response . Showcased at the Munich Security Conference . Using millions of data points — from medium landscape to real - world behavioural data point — we build proprietary machine learnedness model to detect threat and save solutions for preventing the spread of autocratic influence .
Founders : Sviatoslav Hnizdovskyi
Funding : Bootstrapped but are be after to spread out a round of investment soon .
TELETACTICA
Defense : Reliable , substantial - fourth dimension video and datum transmitting in high-pitched - threat environments face severe challenge that extend far beyond proficient glitches . We ’ve developed a reliable communication organization combining custom hardware with proprietary software . Designed with improved reliability under jamming conditions ; lightweight , portable modems compatible with various organization ; custom antennas .
Founders : Eugene Zhebko , Anton Hetman
financial backing : MITS Capital , angel investors and now conclude a ejaculate round .
ARMOR
Defense : Quick , precise , and good engagement of enemy targets from a spacious rage of weapons while importantly saving ammunition . Pitched at the Defense Tech Innovations Forum 2025 ( Brave1 ) event and received an laurels as the best startup in the seed class . Traditional methods of artillery and weapons systems are inefficient . Our software is conflate with a veritable tablet to neutralize enemy object in just one to three shots and reduces ammo use by over 10 times .
Founders : Oleksii Havrysh , Kostiantyn Brendel , Andrii Moruha
Farsight Vision
Defense Department : It ’s a challenge transforming data from reconnaissance UAVs into digital maps and 3D models . Farsight Vision converts flying footage into digital 2D and 3D twins for real - time intelligence , in GNSS - denied environment , cause analytics and situational cognizance convenient and accessible while saving time and effort .
beginner : Viktoriia Yaremchuk , Volodymyr Nepiuk
backing : 774,000 EUR from Darkstar VC Fund and Freedom Fund VC
Ark Robotics
Defense : Ark Robotics build Frontier , a tactical autonomy platform that allows automatic fleet to integrate seamlessly into safe networks , enabling real - metre coordination , autonomy , and resiliency against electronic warfare . Deployed in over 20 frontline units , include Ukraine ’s Unmanned Systems Forces . Strategic partnerships with NATO agencies , with expansion into Poland , Estonia , and other European defense grocery store .
financial backing : Backed by other - stage recondite technical school and defense reaction - focus investors . Specific names under NDA .
Vidar Systems
defence : Acoustic sensors for detecting enemy artillery . The military employ such organization to quickly detect and destroy Russian artillery positions , primarily mortars . Vidar ’s system use triangulation and AI . Each microphone see the same stroke in its own direction and determine the management relative to its office . The computer then collects data on the instruction of the explosion from three or more mike and overlie it on a map .
support : $ 0.7 million+ , Presto Ventures , several lowly fund , several Angel Falls
Biostream
defence : Problem : Up to 50 % of battlefield deaths could be prevent with timely intervention , but there is no way to track a soldier ’s condition or location in veridical time . Solution : A wearable twist that detects early signs of hemorrhage , evaporation , and other vital conditions , send secure geolocalized alerts to nearby medics for faster response .
Founders : Mikita Zabuga , Sophia Metz , Chris Mussett
Funding : Boostrapped
Sine.Engineering
Department of Defense : A Ukrainian technical school caller in scalable UAV technologies . The company is developing and manufacturing high-pitched - tech modules and part to empower radio-controlled aircraft . Their platform of products and software tools — like datum nexus , digital video links , and non - GPS navigation organisation — activate the large - scale product of authentic and low - cost UAVs . In 2024 , Sine presented an alternative to GPS navigation . The society developed a orbiter - free navigation organization to foresee Russia ’s electronic war , which disrupts GPS signaling . Now , Sine is form on implementing a answer for group flights of drones ( swarms ) , undergoing in - field examination .
Founders : Andriy Chulyk , Ostap Ferensovych , Bohdan Tymkiv .
financing : Bootstrapped , but architectural plan include elevate a germ pear-shaped .
