With record investments exceeding $5 billion in 2024, European veterans are leading startups in defense technology, leveraging their field experience to develop solutions that meet the needs of battles in Ukraine.

As the war in Ukraine escalates and NATO budgets increase, European veterans have become key players in defense technology development, contributing their battlefield expertise to transform startups into rapid innovation platforms capable of meeting modern combat demands.

When former German army officer Matt Köpers evaluated an anti-drone weapons system for an Austrian startup, he noticed what the civilian founders overlooked: the weapon barrel heating up after repeated use, causing accuracy loss. Köpers explained that such small details are critical, as seasoned soldiers automatically adjust their aim to avoid errors.

Analysis shows veterans lead a quarter of Europe’s defense startups, while most CEOs of major companies lack any military experience.

The war in Ukraine and increased European defense spending have driven defense sector investments to unprecedented levels, with venture capital investments in defense tech startups reaching $5.2 billion in 2024, more than five times pre-war levels.

The European defense sector is witnessing an unprecedented influx of former soldiers joining startups, benefiting from their field experience and understanding of military needs, including procurement and battlefield planning. Experts confirm that direct military experience within startups makes products more reliable and effective on the battlefield.

The war in Ukraine has shortened technology development cycles from years to weeks, enabling veteran-led startups to rapidly develop innovative defense solutions.

Notable companies include:

• A high-performance drone manufacturer founded by a former officer.
• A battle planning software developer led by a British army officer.
• A military training equipment company run by former Norwegian soldiers.

The founder of a Ukrainian drone company said, “Soldiers see firsthand what solutions are missing on the battlefield and have a deep understanding of what works and what is just hype.”

In practice, unreliable products can cost millions of euros without benefit, underscoring the necessity of direct military expertise in startups to develop tested and effective solutions.

With rising defense budgets, veterans’ roles in Europe are expected to grow as founders, advisors, and innovators ensuring new defense technologies are proven and achieve their objectives.

Experts emphasize that integrating military experience with innovation and investment positions Europe as a leader in developing innovative defense solutions.