The Central and Eastern European (CEE) startup ecosystem has been buzzing with energy in recent years, attracting more funding, recognition, and opportunities for the bold and creative spirits in the region. As someone who has bootstrapped multiple ventures and strongly believes in the power of persistence and strategy, I find the developments shaping the region fascinating and, frankly, motivating. The rise of Europe’s largest defense-tech venture capital fund marks one of the most striking moments in this trajectory.
The Largest Defense-Tech VC Fund in Europe, and What it Means
Keen Venture Partners announced their landmark €150 million defense and security technology fund. This fund is dedicated to nurturing startups and scale-ups advancing defense technology across NATO-member countries, including those in CEE. The first close happened in November 2025, but its impact will reverberate for years to come. This isn’t just about the money pouring into tech; it’s about strategic focus and the way geopolitical shifts spur technological innovation. Projects targeting digital sovereignty, security, and critical infrastructure are becoming priorities for Europe’s venture capital community. For those who want to dive into the details, check out Keen Venture Partners' announcement about their defense fund.
What This Fund Tells Us About Regional Investment Trends
Funding in the defense and tech sector has grown exponentially. Since 2018, investments have tripled, with a projected $1 billion for 2024 alone. This surge is no coincidence. The ongoing war in Ukraine, coupled with heightened geopolitical tensions globally, have pushed governments and investors to back tech that enables strategic autonomy. European startups, from Germany to Bulgaria, are capitalizing on this need while VC funds now openly discuss defense-related goals. For example, Presto Ventures joined forces with Czechoslovak Group on a dedicated €150 million deep-tech initiative aimed at dual-use technologies.
Female Founders, Pay Attention Here
It’s easy to overlook the opportunities in defense-tech space as an entrepreneur if the sector feels distant or overly technical. Yet, some of the most successful startups aren’t focusing purely on national security. Many have clear commercial applications, like autonomous navigation systems, AI-powered drones, and smart material innovations. If you're thinking of branching out or grappling with an idea involving dual-use technology, this could be the moment to seize a new niche.
How to Start Garnering Funds as a Woman in Tech
Entering tech as a female founder is hard. I speak from experience. Bootstrapping has taught me how to stretch resources thin and make every effort pay dividends. Here are tips I recommend to women keen on entering the deep-tech and defense sectors:
- Understand Transatlantic Connections. The defense-tech ecosystem values global interconnections. Investors in Europe often build bridges with complementary U.S. funding networks. Research both sides to find well-aligned partners.
- Network Locally, Then Regionally. Attend security- and defense-oriented conferences. Tempo accelerates when regional hubs pool resources, venture funds flourish in supportive ecosystems.
- Focus on Dual-Use Innovation. Even if defense itself isn't your calling, solutions applicable to commercial industries (e.g., drones used in agriculture and surveillance) stand out when scaling.
- Build Relentless Resilience. This isn’t a sector for the faint-hearted. Investors will want proof of tough leadership, you must be ready for challenges.
Mistakes Female Entrepreneurs Often Make (and Lessons to Learn)
Many women shy away from applying to niche VC funds they believe aren’t marketed specifically to them. This reserve denies them access to funding opportunities that are, in fact, gender-neutral. The truth is, most funds care far less about demographics than potential scale, so the key lesson is not to self-exclude.
Another common pitfall is underestimating the importance of partnerships. Defense and security tech projects often require collaborations with other organizations, both public and private. I've learned in my own ventures that having connections to an accelerator or a local entity adds not only credibility, but also resources you never realized were within reach.
Finally, avoid chasing perfection. If you can't answer every technical question the investors ask, show your ability to adapt and fill knowledge gaps fast. Remember, as women founders, we often outmatch others in sheer preparedness. Lean into that.
The Outlook for CEE Deep-Tech Founders
The ecosystem in Central and Eastern Europe is maturing into an undeniable hotspot for deep-tech efforts due to rapid adoption of new funds. While the defense-tech sector may not dominate the broader tech funding scene, its scope brings significant visibility to AI, quantum technologies, and robotics, all influential fields shaping the industry. Investors like Rockaway Ventures and United Founders emphasize transformative tech and European innovation, investing purposefully toward long-term scalability.
Useful Conclusions for Entrepreneurs
If I were starting over today in this ecosystem, my advice to my younger self might include:
- Stop bootstrapping sooner rather than later, if that’s an option.
- Build partnerships strategically, preferably cross-border.
- Never assume a niche like defense-tech is out of reach.
- Prioritize platforms and ecosystems aligning naturally with your venture.
For female founders across Europe, the takeaway is clear: large-scale funds like Keen Venture Partners or Presto Horizons signal an abundance of options for deep-tech innovation, particularly in regions eager to prove their growing global influence. Select ambitious short-term wins, focus your energy where funding meets scalable growth, and push beyond societal expectations that limit what women in tech pursue. If you're ready to dive deeper into this opportunity, Keen Venture Partners is a great entry touchpoint to explore opportunities in Europe’s largest defense-tech VC fund.
FAQ
1. What is the largest defense-tech VC fund in Europe?
The largest defense-tech venture capital fund in Europe is the €150 million initiative by Keen Venture Partners, aimed at fostering startups and scale-ups within defense and security technologies across NATO-member countries. Learn more about Keen Venture Partners’ defense fund
2. How much has VC funding for defense tech grown in recent years?
Since 2018, venture capital funding for defense-related technology has increased fivefold, with projections nearing $1 billion for 2024. Explore details on defense-tech investment trends
3. What is the connection between geopolitical shifts and European tech funding?
Geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, have driven governments and investors to prioritize strategic autonomy technologies, such as AI, cybersecurity, and defense systems. Discover insights on geopolitical impact and tech funding
4. Are there deep-tech initiatives targeting female founders?
Female founders often miss opportunities to enter defense-tech due to misconceptions about the niche. The dual-use technologies backed by funds like Keen Venture Partners provide accessible commercial applications.
5. Which sectors are European defense-tech investments focusing on?
European defense-tech investments prioritize dual-use technologies, including autonomous navigation systems, AI-powered drones, and quantum computing innovations. Explore top deep-tech sectors
6. What are transatlantic connections in the defense-tech ecosystem?
Transatlantic links strengthen Europe’s defense-tech efforts by partnering with U.S. funding networks and forging opportunities for startups to scale internationally.
7. What advice is available for women entering the defense-tech market?
Female founders are encouraged to build local and regional networks, focus on scalable innovations with dual-use potential, and prioritize resilience and adaptability in leadership.
8. How are partnerships crucial for defense-tech startups?
Collaborations with accelerators or local entities provide credibility, resources, and industry connections vital for scaling defense and security tech ventures. Learn about partnerships in defense-tech
9. What is unique about the CEE startup ecosystem for deep-tech founders?
The CEE region is becoming a hotspot for AI, quantum tech, and robotics due to maturing funding infrastructures, geopolitical shifts, and strategic goals for technological sovereignty. Explore CEE startup trends
10. How can female entrepreneurs avoid mistakes in the defense-tech sector?
Common pitfalls include self-exclusion from gender-neutral funding opportunities and underestimating the importance of partnerships and adaptability in technical questions during investor pitches.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
