Interest in security-focused innovation continues to build. In 2024, funding for European startups working in defense and related fields reached €4.55 billion, marking a 24 percent increase from the previous year. This growth outpaced venture capital investment in AI across the continent over the last two years. Much of the activity has centered on startups developing tools that support situational awareness, decision-making capabilities, and operational mobility.

Looking at funding levels by country, Slovakia, Poland and Bulgaria stand out at the top. In Slovakia’s case, however, nearly 90 percent of the total comes from InoBat, which has raised €137 million to date.

Given this growing momentum across the region, it is the right time to take a closer look at the top players shaping the defense and dual-use technology landscape. In the following overview, we will highlight the leading startups driving innovation in this space, both in terms of the funding and the technological capabilities they are bringing to market.

Wanna dive deeper? Discover WHO IS PROTECTING EUROPE’S FUTURE: The state of defense and cybersecurity tech in CEE.