The hackathon that became Europe's defence startup ecosystem
Here in Europe, a new generation of defence startups is emerging far outside the traditional military-industrial complex. Across weekend hackathons, engineers, software developers, drone builders, res... The European Defense Tech Hub hackathons are proving that some of the continent's most promising defence startups can emerge in just 48 hours - and continue growing long after the weekend ends.
Key Takeaways
- Defencetech The hackathon that became Europe's defence startup ecosystem The European Defense Tech Hub hackathons are proving that some of the continent's most promising defence startups can emerge in just 48 hours - and continue growing long after the weekend ends.
Cate Lawrence 1 hour ago Share Share Send email Copy link Here in Europe, a new generation of defence startups is emerging far outside the traditional military-industrial complex.
- He studied physics and completed a PhD in condensed matter physics, researching why materials are magnetic.
He admits, "I loved science, but towards the end of my PhD I realised I wasn't going to become a professor, and I didn't want to work for a large corporation.
- " He messaged his friend Jonatan Luther-Bergquist, who's also a physicist and partner at VC firm Inflection .
"We looked at what was happening in the US and thought, "Maybe we could organise something like this in Europe.
- Looking back, what surprises me most is that we were complete outsiders.
We had no reputation, no previous experience organising anything like this and, honestly, no real reason to expect people would come.
- " They were right," shared Wolba.
Stats & Key Facts
- #The European Defense Tech Hub hackathons are proving that some of the continent's most promising defence startups can emerge in just 48 hours - and continue growing long after the weekend ends.
- #Defencetech The hackathon that became Europe's defence startup ecosystem The European Defense Tech Hub hackathons are proving that some of the continent's most promising defence startups can emerge in just 48 hours - and continue growing long after the weekend ends.
- #Today, EDTH has organised 35 hackathons across Copenhagen, Paris, Kyiv, Berlin, London, Prague, Brussels and Tallinn, involving more than 400 teams, with around 40 going on to form companies.
The European Defense Tech Hub hackathons are proving that some of the continent's most promising defence startups can emerge in just 48 hours - and continue growing long after the weekend ends. Defencetech The hackathon that became Europe's defence startup ecosystem The European Defense Tech Hub hackathons are proving that some of the continent's most promising defence startups can emerge in just 48 hours - and continue growing long after the weekend ends. Cate Lawrence 1 hour ago Share Share Send email Copy link Here in Europe, a new generation of defence startups is emerging far outside the traditional military-industrial complex.
Across weekend hackathons, engineers, software developers, drone builders, researchers, soldiers, founders and investors are coming together to prototype technologies for the modern battlefield - many of which are already finding their way to Ukraine. At the centre of that movement is the European Defence Tech Hub (EDTH). I sat down with co-founder Benjamin Wolba to learn how a grassroots initiative became one of Europe's fastest-growing defence innovation communities.
From physicist to accidental defence founder Wolba has no background in defence and has never served in the military. He admits his path into defencetech happened almost by accident. He studied physics and completed a PhD in condensed matter physics, researching why materials are magnetic.
For more details please read the original article at Tech.eu.
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