On Friday, 29 May, the ten startups selected for the second year of Defence Business Lab were announced. The initiative is aimed at deep-tech startups in the defence sector. It helps startups whose ideas have been validated and who already have an initial prototype to further develop their solutions and test them in real-life environments. Participants are supported through training, mentoring, and networking opportunities, preparing them also for future rounds of the NATO DIANA accelerator and the European Defence Fund. As part of the programme, five companies will develop their solutions in Tartu and five in Tallinn.
Pirko Konsa, Member of the Management Board of Sparkup Tartu Science Park and a member of the Estonian Defence League, highlighted that the results of the first cohort are already tangible. “At this year’s Spring Storm, we saw how companies that started in 2025 were able to test their products in real-life conditions. This shows that even early-stage companies, with the right product, a clear understanding of the need, and strong development work, can bring their solution to a test-ready level within a year. Looking at this year’s candidates and participating companies, it is encouraging to see that among the ten selected companies there are several players with very high growth potential.”
“In defence technology, a good idea alone is not enough — it is necessary to understand the real user need, move quickly from prototype to experimentation, and at the same time build a team and business model capable of scaling internationally. The Pre-Accelerator creates the necessary bridge for early-stage companies: it brings teams together with defence-sector experts and potential end users and prepares them for the next major development steps,” explained Vootele Päi, Head of Defence and Dual-Use Technologies at Tehnopol.
The following startups were selected for the pre-accelerator:
- MindChip is developing an AI-based autonomous ship captain to make maritime navigation and vessel control smarter and more independent.
- Skypiercer’s mission is to make affordable “last-layer” counter-drone close protection, or C-UAS, widely accessible, helping to save lives and protect high-value assets.
- Sonic Dynamics is developing fast unmanned aerial vehicles.
- Towerhouse OÜ is developing innovative simulation and training solutions for aviation and the defence sector.
- Cata Strato is developing modular solutions for neutralising hostile drones.
- Arx is developing a drone platform designed to counter Shahed-type drones. The platform is fast, capable of operating at high altitude, easy to control, and equipped with automatic target-locking functionality.
- Kappazeta provides practical remote sensing solutions based on AI-driven data analysis.
- Anti-troll supports StratCom units in countering disinformation campaigns with agents based on large language models.
- Stickelback Robotics is developing a semi-submersible maritime drone platform that enables long-duration intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and target acquisition activities, acoustic object detection, and support for other unmanned systems, including in complex environments affected by electronic interference.
- Passer Systems is developing a navigation module for unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, that uses machine learning and motion sensors to ensure precise positioning without GPS.
Enelin Tiiman, Head of Defence Industry Policy at the Ministry of Defence, said that growing interest in the defence sector is an encouraging sign. “We are pleased to see that more and more new technology companies see an opportunity to contribute to the defence sector. The large number of applicants shows that Estonia has strong innovation potential. The aim of the Pre-Accelerator is to provide companies with the knowledge, tools, and direct end-user feedback needed to develop solutions that address modern security challenges. We wish all ten companies selected for the programme success and hope that the programme will help them reach results as quickly as possible that meet the real needs of the Defence Forces and find their way into real-life use.”
Participants receive €5,000 in grant funding, a comprehensive training programme led by experienced experts, and the opportunity to work with a broad mentor network. The programme will culminate in a Demo Day, where the development and potential of the projects for international expansion will be evaluated.
The program is implemented by Sparkup Tartu Science Park and Tehnopol, and funded by the Ministry of Defence.
Further information:
Sigrid Mölder, Project Manager of Defence Business Lab at Sparkup Tartu Science Park, sigrid.molder@teaduspark.ee
Kati Kirsipuu, Project Manager of Defence Business Lab at Tehnopol, kati.kirsipuu@tehnopol.ee
