From Capital to Capability: Defence and Dual-Use Innovation in Estonia and Latvia
Thursday 6. November at 16:30 - 19:00
Tehnopol Startup Incubator, 3rd floor, Tallinn
Defence and dual-use innovation is evolving fast. Funding priorities, collaboration models and procurement needs are shifting every month. This session gives founders a clear view of what is happening right now in the region and what is coming next.
Organised by the NATO DIANA Estonian Accelerator, with guests from the NATO DIANA Latvian Accelerator, the event brings together investors, defence and dual-use representatives and ecosystem experts from both countries to share real insights into how funding decisions are made, what kinds of technologies are being prioritised and how startups can position themselves to take part.
It is a rare chance to ask questions openly and get a realistic picture of how defence and dual-use works in practice from people who are shaping it day to day.
Programme
16:30–17:00
☕ Coffee, snacks and gathering
17:00–17:15
🎙️ Keynote: A Latvian military end-user will share insights into innovation needs and procurement processes, exploring how Estonian defence and dual-use startups can contribute to solving practical challenges in the field.
17:15–17:35
💬Regional Capital, Shared Security: How to Engage in Defence Investment
Panelists:
Magnus-Valdemar Saar - Senior Adviser at SmartCap. SmartCap Defence and Dual-Use Fund invests €100 million to develop Estonia’s defence industry and strengthen innovation capacity through strategic investments. Formerly, Saar served as Director General of the Estonian Centre for Defence Investment (RKIK).
Nicholas Nelson - Venture Partner at Superangel and General Partner at Archangel Ventures, an early-stage fund investing in the next generation of European defence and dual-use technology.
Representative from UniLab (Latvia) - with extensive experience in startup investment, will discuss defence and dual-use investment developments in Latvia and explain how regional cooperation and initiatives such as the NATO DIANA Latvian Accelerator are shaping opportunities for early-stage companies in the region.
Moderator:
Vootele Päi - Head of Defence and Dual-Use Technologies at Tehnopol. Previously, he has worked at the British Embassy in Tallinn, the Estonian Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of the Interior.
17:35–18:00
❓ Audience Q&A – your chance to ask the speakers about real-world challenges and opportunities in defence and dual-use investment and innovation
18:00–19:00
🤝 Networking
Event Details
📅 6 November 2025
🕓 16:30–19:00
📍 Tehnopol, Mäealuse 2/4, A Corp, 3rd floor
The event will be held in English and is in-person only.
Attendance is free of charge, but pre-registration is required.
🔗 Learn more about the NATO DIANA Estonian Accelerator: startupincubator.ee/en/nato-diana
This event is organised by the NATO DIANA Estonian Accelerator, led by Tehnopol Startup Incubator, in cooperation with Sparkup Tartu Science Park. The accelerator is funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence and the city of Tallinn.
Tehnopol Startup Incubator, 3rd floor • Mäealuse 2/4, A korpus, Harju, Estonia
