Defence Accelerator and venture capital firm
We help build disruptive technology companies for the defence of Finland, Ukraine and Europe.
Accelerator program
We run a structured program for early- to mid-stage defence and dual-use startups in collaboration with key stakeholders from Finland, Ukraine and NATO countries. We welcome Finnish, European and Ukrainian companies. Our program runs in parallel with Defence Builder - the #1 Ukrainian defence tech accelerator.
We will change the way startups do product development with feedback loops to real battlefields. This is your opportunity to validate, develop and test your products where they are intended to be used. And when validated, we’ll introduce them to defence forces together.
Our program kicks off in late-January 2026, and runs 4 months.
Apply by 15.12.2025
What startups get
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Connections
We act as a bridge builder between different defense forces and alliances enabling rapid innovation, collaboration, and deployment of critical defense technologies. 17Tech is collaborating with NATO and Ukrainian accelerators, investors, decisionmakers and front-line operators to ensure relevance of the solutions.
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Battlefield development and testing
We provide direct access to testing, validation and development opportunities close to the battlefield through our Ukrainian partners. We support you in “Organic Product Development” methodology, which is based on product development experiences and fast iteration cycles from the Ukrainian battlefield.
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Funding
We provide up to €40k to companies that take part in our program, in exchange for 4-12% of shares. We will also help you find further funding from our network of investors.
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Mentorship
Our mentors include world-class R&D professionals from top-tier research institutes and tech companies; Product leaders and engineers from global tech companies; Defense professionals, battlefield operators, and procurement experts; Expertise on innovation events around the world.
Startups get weekly 1on1 ’s with them during the program
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Demo day
The accelerator culminates in a final Demo Day, where teams present to a curated group of investors, defense buyers, integrators, and military leadership. Each team walks away with field validation, investor visibility, and—crucially—direct contacts with defense forces who can support operational adoption and deployment beyond the program.
Team
Our team has decades of experience from defence consulting, hundreds of startup investments, organizing 29 accelerator programs around the world and building the defence tech ecosystem.
17Tech mentors and advisors come from various interesting backgrounds, from top research institutes, executives and product managers from successful companies to veterans from the Ukrainian frontline.
We will help you validate, test and develop your ideas, find investors and land customers.
WE INVEST ACROSS AREAS, BUT THIS IS WHAT’S CAPTURING OUR ATTENTION RIGHT NOW
UAV AI based swarm solutions
UAV defense
autonomous UGV solutions
EW
EW resilient comms
troops readiness and resilience
sensors and sensor AI data mining
cybersecurity
other defence-related themes
Become a mentor
Are you an experienced professional with military, defence, business or technology background? Would you like to help protect freedom and shape future defence technologies?
