Defence Builder

🧩 Demo Day Defence Builder: 4 months of accelerating our first cohort of defence startups are behind us! Last week, we hosted the final pitch sessions and Q&A with our teams, giving guests the opportunity to witness the rapid growth of our defence tech startups. Among the projects showcased were a waterborne drone, a heavy combat drone, an anti-drone turret, a targeting system, and a demining solution. Here are the key outcomes of the 4-month accelerator program: → 6 teams tested their innovations at a military training ground; → 3 teams are undergoing testing in active combat zones; → 1 team reached the finals of the Defense Startup Track at Lviv IT Arena; → 2 teams received soft commitments from Ukrainian funds; → 1 team is in final negotiations for investment; → 2 partnerships formed between teams; → 3 teams pivoted their product concepts to better meet military needs. We are deeply grateful to everyone dedicated to growing Ukraine's defence tech ecosystem. Our main goal is to train startups and create an environment for developing technologies that help protect the country. While Demo Day marked a kind of "graduation," there is still much work ahead. Building a strong defence ecosystem requires synergy between the military, business, government, and educational initiatives — a collaboration we are fostering through Defence Builder. We would like to thank our co-founding companies Kyiv School of Economics, Buntar Aerospace and Sigma Software Labs as well as our partners at the Ministry of Defense, Aerorozvidka NGO, BRAVE1 and Victory Drones, for standing alongside us in this important mission. For security reasons, we haven't yet introduced you to the teams in this cohort, but stay tuned — we’ll be sharing more soon!

Meet #TechnoHawk 🦅— a defence startup that has completed the Defence Builder acceleration program and is now in a position to significantly assist the military on the battlefield with its innovative solutions. Scroll through and you'll understand everything. And if you're ready to invest — reach out to us!

We continue to tell you about Hard Cat Drones — a startup from the first batch of Defence Builder's acceleration! Hard Cat Drones CPO Dmytro Pishchukevich is speaking with Militarnyi at Defense Tech Valley by BRAVE1 ↘️ "This is a kamikaze drone designed to destroy small motorized boats. Its maximum speed is up to 40 km/h, range is up to 10 km, payload capacity: 3 kg. Another model is currently in development, and we plan to make it faster. Additionally, based on this model, we are working on a version for clearing anchor mines." Watch more (you can turn on english subtitles): https://lnkd.in/daVB4wtT

Machine Offensive 2.0 is coming, are you ready? What can you expect? → 3 weeks of working on your development with mentors and military experts online, followed by a presentation of the best solutions at the demo day in December 2024 in Kyiv. What solutions are we looking for? → Innovative solutions for neutralizing or reducing the effectiveness of GABs (guided aerial b0мbs), as well as drones with fiber-optic control. Who is organizing it? → The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Defence Builder is a partner, which means that the winners of the challenges may have the opportunity to join the acceleration program at Defence Builder! We invite → teams with expertise in creating defence solutions, particularly manufacturers and engineers in EW (electronic warfare), air defence systems, sensor systems, and software developers. ✴️ Deadline for applications: November 18th. ✴️ Registration link: https://lnkd.in/ec6ip5sb Don’t have a team but have an idea and expertise? Don’t hesitate — gather a team and apply. Your solutions are essential for the Defense Forces! #hakathon #defensetech #MachineOffensive

🧑🏽🎤 Join the next European Defence Tech Hackathons on Nov 15-17, 2024 in Copenhagen or Nov 29 - Dec 1 in Paris. It’s a strong opportunity for the #defencetech startups to shape the future of sovereign technology. Our Kateryna Bezsudna and Maksym Cherkis are joining as mentors! We’re grateful to European Defense Tech, Benjamin Wolba and Jonatan H. Luther-Bergquist for hosting this impactful event, which brings Ukrainian defence tech challenges and expertise into focus. And of course for gathering of such strong partners as PSV, Defense Innovation Highway | DIH, Export and Investment Fund of Denmark, SE3 Labs, DTU - Technical University of Denmark, Delian Alliance Industries, BRAVE1, Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Don’t hesitate to register: • Copenhagen, Nov 15-17, 2024: https://lu.ma/cwtked18 • Paris, Nov 29 - Dec 1, 2024: https://lu.ma/m7rt59cd So, what destination will you choose: Paris or Copenhagen?

Did you know that only 5% of drones hit the target? UAV SOUL is a defence tech startup that has gone through the Defence Builder accelerator and aims to change this disheartening statistic. Meet UAV SOUL: a last-mile delivery solution for aircraft-type drones. And, of course, if you're interested in investing in the startup, let us know!

Join us in welcoming our newest advisor at Defence Builder – Tom Jackson! With over 26 years of leadership in dual-use aerospace, defense, and commercial sectors, Tom’s background is extraordinary. He has managed global operations, overseeing $250M P&Ls and leading teams of 100+ in complex systems integration on international aircraft programs. His rapid scaling of Aeryon Defense and the team’s launch of a game-changing military UAS technology led to the company’s acquisition by FLIR Systems for $200M – a testament to his visionary approach. Tom is a retired US Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel, serving 25 active and reserve years with multiple deployed operational tours as an AH-1W Attack Helicopter pilot. Tom graduated from The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, and holds a Master of Business Administration in International Business from Regis University. Tom, we’re thrilled to have you join us in shaping the future of defense tech. Thank you for your commitment and support for our startups!

You've been waiting for this! We're starting to introduce you to the defence tech startups that completed acceleration at Defence Builder. The Hard Cat Drones team is creating a small surface interceptor drone to protect marine infrastructure and civil ships. In 9 months, they have progressed from a concept to successful testing at the testing field, and battlefield testing is already underway. With solid market traction and a clear niche, Hardcat is raising a pre-seed round to scale production and continue R&D toward a more advanced product. It's time to invest in #DefenceTech 🐈⬛

🔰 Our co-founders at the Kyiv School of Economics, together with our partners at BRAVE1, have presented the first comprehensive study of Ukraine’s drone industry. Check out the research here: https://bit.ly/KSE_BRAVE1 Each research report on the defence market is invaluable for the ecosystem, especially as Ukraine’s #DefenceTech sector is growing and evolving rapidly. Analyzing and processing the necessary data requires time and specialized expertise. The report, "Ukraine’s Drones Industry: Investments and Product Innovations," offers a clear vision of the country's #drone industry, which is characterized by strategic innovations and significant investment opportunities. We are thankful to Olena Bilousova, Emir Omelchenko, Max Makarchuk and Tymofiy Mylovanov for their thorough work. We highly recommend this report to all Ukrainian and international players in the industry!

Expertise is an invaluable resource early-stage defence tech startups can get from investors interested in their growth. Saveliy Serebrov, Program Manager at Defence Builder, shares insights on the vital expertise needed for a startup's success and how investors can strengthen teams not only financially but also through their expertise. Swipe to learn more!