The Defence Pre-accelerator

The Defence Business Lab is a pre-accelerator for the defence industry that helps deep-tech startups develop and test their ideas for the defence sector and prepare for international programmes.

If you are the leader or a team member of a deep-tech startup that has reached technology readiness level (TRL) 3 or higher, the Defence Business Lab is intended precisely for you.

The programme is designed to support the further development of your technology and testing of it in a real-world environment to get you ready to apply successfully to the NATO DIANA accelerator or the programmes of the European Defence Fund (EDF).

The programme has four learning modules and ends with a demonstration day when you can get feedback on your progress. The best ideas are chosen during the reception round, and they will go ahead to the three-month intensive programme.

Applications to the Defence Pre-accelerator will open again in spring 2027. Register your interest now so that you can be among the first to hear when applications open.

When

The new application period will open in spring 2027.

Duration

3 months

Readiness level

TRL3+

Grant funding

5 000€

The Defence Pre-accelerator offers you

  • a thorough training programme with three months of hands-on management and intensive training by experts
  • possible grants of 5000 euros to accelerate your development
  • personal mentoring with eight hours of expert advice for each team
  • access to networks, contacts and resources that can help bring your idea to life in the real world

Timetable of the programme

  1. Applications open

    March

  2. Applications close

    April

  3. Kick-off seminar of the programme

    May

  4. Training, events and work with mentors

    May- October

  5. The programme ends

    October

Training in the programme

Business model, product development and validation

Finding and managing a scalable business model, developing a product or service for the defence sector

May

Sales

The purchasing logic, decision-making and sales opportunities in defence

June

Regulations and certification governing defence

The requirements for defence industries, liability processes, and the role of certification in market entry

June

Financing options, investor appetite and project descriptions

Different financing solutions for the defence industry, and persuading investors and preparing project applications within the defence sector

August

Pitch

Pitching and the investor pitch deck

September

The companies entering the 2026 cohort will be chosen by Enelin Tiiman (Ministry of Defence), Ken Veski (Force Transformation Command of the Estonian Defence Forces), Marily Hendrikson (Milrem Robotics), Tauri Tuubel (Reconeyez, Defendec), Jan Lätt (EstBAN), Jaan Kokk (Archangel), Sigrid Mölder (Sparkup Tartu Science Park), and Vootele Päi (Tehnopol)

The pre-accelerator programme is run by the Tehnopol Startup Incubator and Sparkup, the Tartu Science Park. The programme is funded by the Ministry of Defence.

Kati Kirsipuu

Kati Kirsipuu

Project Manager

+372 5684 8066
kati.kirsipuu@tehnopol.ee

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