Hello friends! Today, we’re diving into a fascinating world where defense, innovation, and European ambitions collide. Buckle up for a journey into the emerging defense tech scene in Europe and the daring moves of American investors.

Eric Slesinger, a former CIA officer turned VC founder, is shaking up the investment landscape by focusing on defense tech startups across Europe. Unlike many American investors chasing AI or U.S.-based defense firms, Slesinger is targeting European innovations. He recently closed a $22 million fund dedicated to early-stage European defense startups, spotting opportunities where others might overlook.

Slesinger sees a critical shift: increasingly, private sector players are key in defense competition, a realm once dominated solely by governments. His background from Stanford and Harvard, combined with a spirit of adventurousness, helps him bridge defense tech and commercial markets. His approach is unconventional—and that’s what makes him stand out. Many European entrepreneurs and governments are surprisingly cautious about discussing defense investments, fearing cultural resistance. But this hesitance is fading, partly thanks to the NATO Innovation Fund, which supports ventures like his.

European startups like Helsing in Munich, valued at over $5 billion, and Delian Alliance Industries in Athens exemplify the region’s rising defense tech scene. Helsing develops AI for battlefield use, while Delian focuses on surveillance towers for autonomous threats. Slesinger’s firm, 201 Ventures, has invested in eight such companies, emphasizing the importance of targeting the ‘gray zone’—activities that blur the lines between peace and conflict—at scale across Europe.

Despite the promising landscape, funding defense tech isn’t without its hurdles. Long development timelines and the need for early European lobbying are some challenges. However, recent data shows European defense startups raised $5.2 billion in 2024—more than AI funding—highlighting a significant shift. With geopolitical tensions rising and U.S. support possibly waning, Europe’s focus on national security and defense innovation is expected to accelerate further.

So, the European defense tech scene is heating up, drawing bold investors like Slesinger who believe in its vast potential. It’s a thrilling chapter where innovation meets strategy on the continent’s frontline of security.