For too long, Europe has relied on words rather than deeds to shore up its security.
Ministers talk of sovereignty and resilience, yet when it comes to defence technology, the continent has lagged behind.
Now, however, an unexpected force is reshaping the landscape: Europe’s veterans. Roughly a quarter of the continent’s defence start-ups are led by former soldiers, and their impact is nothing short of transformative.
In 2024, investment in European defence start-ups surged by a staggering 500 per cent, reaching $5.2 billion. NATO’s Innovation Fund has provided the spark, but venture capitalists from London to Berlin have followed, drawn by the rare combination of battlefield experience and entrepreneurial vision. These veterans are not dabbling in theoretical innovation; they are producing technologies built on lived experience, solutions the battlefield has demanded.
Consider drones, once the preserve of giant aerospace firms. Veteran-led start-ups are producing smaller, agile, combat-ready systems at a fraction of the cost. Cyber defence, too, is benefiting: ex-signals officers are creating rapid-response software capable of detecting and neutralising threats in real time. In both cases, experience on the front lines has translated into practical, deployable, and often revolutionary technology.
What makes this trend particularly significant is the cultural shift it represents. Veterans have long been portrayed as struggling to reintegrate, battling bureaucracy, unemployment, or mental health challenges. These entrepreneurs are challenging that narrative. They are thriving, not merely surviving, turning operational knowledge into industrial advantage. Their success is a reminder that military service can produce not just discipline and resilience, but insight and creativity, qualities the defence industry cannot afford to ignore.
The geopolitical implications are profound. Europe’s reliance on American technology has long been a strategic vulnerability. Veteran-led start-ups are helping to close that gap, offering home-grown solutions in drones, robotics, AI, and cyber. They are bridging the divide between need and capability, ensuring Europe can act independently when it matters most.
Of course, obstacles remain. Procurement systems are slow, bureaucracies are entrenched, and established defence giants may resist disruption. Talent shortages pose a further challenge, as start-ups require engineers, coders, and project managers to complement their veteran founders. But here too, the ecosystem is evolving. Universities and research institutes are creating incubators that pair veterans with technical talent, while some established defence firms are forming venture arms to invest in or collaborate with start-ups.
The lesson is clear: Europe cannot rely solely on large, inflexible companies or government programmes. Innovation is emerging from the field, from those who have seen the deficiencies first-hand and refuse to accept them. The veterans’ approach, rapid iteration, agile decision-making, and mission-focused leadership, mirrors exactly the qualities modern warfare demands.
For NATO and European allies, the rise of veteran-led start-ups is a positive signal. It demonstrates that Europe is finally taking responsibility for its own security, not merely outsourcing capability or depending on political platitudes. And for the veterans themselves, it represents a continuation of service, an opportunity to apply hard-earned knowledge to protect the continent in new, tangible ways.
Europe’s veteran entrepreneurs are not just filling gaps—they are redefining the defence industry. If governments continue to nurture this sector and investors maintain their faith, these start-ups could form the backbone of a more innovative, resilient, and sovereign European security architecture. The message is simple: listen to your veterans—they are building the future.
