I relocated to San Francisco in 2005, just as startups were beginning to reemerge following the Dotcom crash. While I didn’t move to SF to work in tech, once there I found it impossible to escape the allure of startups; building my career at the epicentre of that ecosystem, ultimately as the Director of Global Events at TechCrunch. Running the world’s leading startup and technology conferences both in San Francisco — and in a list of countries too long to share here — I had the privilege of spending my time around founders and the reporters who covered them. That love of high growth companies and the people who build them has never left me and it is what makes me most excited about our work at Resilience Media.
We founded Resilience Conference in 2024 as a direct response to very real threat to Western liberal values and a desire to defend that way of life. We believe deeply in the defence of our democracies and I am convinced that startup technology and the founder mentality will continue to play an important role in this, as we have already seen in Ukraine.
Looking at the Resilience Conference 2025 agenda, I’m particularly proud of the unique startup narrative woven through our carefully curated conference. In-depth conversations with premiere defence startups who have collectively raised billions will explore how the tech sector can support the military and national security community in a period of increasing geopolitical threat.
Now is the time. Technologies built by the startups on our stage are being deployed on the front lines of war. Investment into the defence, security, and resilience sector has never been more active than it is now. Last year, startups in this sector attracted a record $5.2 billion in funding, with early and breakout stage companies driving much of the momentum. The sector is expanding faster than most VC categories in Europe, fuelling venture-backed innovation in AI, dual-use technologies, information security, quantum encryption, and more.
The conversations on our stage with founders, CEOs, and C-level leadership from these startups will bring into sharp focus the urgency that faces NATO Allies and partners. These people move fast, and that speed is now critical to our defence and security.
Resilience Conference focusses on startups as the linchpin in our fight to defend democracy. The fireside chats and panels will explore the successes and challenges, lessons and opportunities of scaling and bringing products to end users in a time of war.
Here are the panels at Resilience Conference 2025 that will develop these crucial stories from the perspective of the startups. I hope you are just as excited as I am. I look forward to seeing you there in 9 days.
-Leslie
Helsing and General Catalyst: ‘Sovereign Tech for a Secure Future’
Helsing, the much-discussed Berlin-based defence AI startup with nearly €1.4 billion in funding, will take the stage on day one. Co-founder and co-CEO Torsten Reil will join in conversation with Jeannette zu Fürstenberg, Managing Director, Head of Europe, of General Catalyst.
We have covered how Helsing uses AI to build software-defined systems across land, air, and sea. By putting sensors and autonomy at the core, it develops technologies from AI fighter pilots to underwater detection platforms and scalable drones. Helsing has positioned itself as a sovereign company strengthening Europe’s democratic defence with speed and deterrence. The panel will discuss the urgency of European resilience and their vision for a sovereign European defence tech sector. The company has largely remained under the radar when it comes to talking about their work. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Auterion: the Battle-Tested, Critical Software Layer Powering Autonomous Systems
Auterion’s CEO, Lorenz Meier stays on topic and doesn’t mince words. First appearing on our stage alongside newly-announced partner Rheinmetall at the Munich Security Conference, we’re thrilled to welcome him back and hear about what strides Auterion has taken in the last six months.
Building the Resilient Defence Industrial Base with Anduril, Nominal, and Solideon
Rich Drake of Anduril will join Cameron McCord, CEO of Nominal and Oluseun Taiwo, CEO of Solideon. This conversation will focus on ways in which tech startups are building the resilient defence industrial base. Anduril, which makes autonomous weapons and software to control them, announced in June a massive $2.5 billion raise at a $30 billion valuation in a round that spokespeople said was over 8x times oversubscribed. Nominal — on unicorn trajectory — has technology that makes the industrial layer run more efficiently; further enabling mass and scale. And last but not least, newcomer Solideon, which creates autonomous deployable factories, will discuss how digital manufacturing, automation, and AI are transforming the defence industry.
Beyond Missiles: The Future of Kinetics with Tiberius and STARK
Tiberius is a UK startup developing a new class of weapons and launchers to extend targeting and range capabilities of what the military uses today. We’ve written about them and the launch of Grail, their enterprise resource planning and supply chain management platform, a move illustrating a larger trend in defence tech’s turn to “enterprisation.”
CSO Andy Baynes will take the stage with Stark’s Philip Lockwood. Stark recently announced a $62 million raise for its strike drones and operating systems used to control un-manned aircraft. Storied Silicon Valley firm Sequoia led the funding, valuing Stark at $500 million post-money.
Building a Defence Tech Ecosystem with Darkstar
Europe’s defence tech ecosystem is taking shape at speed – from Ukraine to the Nordics. In this fireside chat, Ragnar Sass (Darkstar) shares lessons from Estonia’s transformation, Ukraine’s volunteer-driven innovation, and Darkstar’s role in building a pan-European community of defence founders and investors. Expect a candid look at how Europe can scale defence innovation, and why ecosystems – not just companies – will define the future of security.
We’re also hosting a breakout session with the whole team from Darkstar – the coalition of 30 founders, developers, and investors from Estonia and across Europe, and organiser of a startup bootcamp in Kyiv. We have attended most of their events and written about them throughout the year. They are pioneers in how the tech sector can step up and support defence, and in how to build a truly dynamic defence tech ecosystem. Responding to a direct threat to their country, the founding team have used their skills, resources, and networks to make a real impact on defence innovation in NATO. This is a unique opportunity to meet the whole team and spend an hour exploring what they’ve done and what lessons they’ve learned.
Fireside Chat with Frankenburg Technologies and Blossom Capital
In this fireside chat, Kusti Salm of Frankenburg and Ophelia Brown of Blossom Capital explore what it takes to build and back breakthrough defence technology in Europe. From designing the world’s smallest guided missile in record time to navigating the unique economics of modern conflict, they’ll discuss speed, cost, and mission focus. Expect insights on how VCs assess defence startups, where capital is most needed, and how Europe can scale innovation to meet today’s urgent security challenges.
What Tomorrow’s Battlefield Looks Like with Hadean
Tomorrow’s battlefield will be shaped by hybrid threats, AI, autonomy, and new approaches to resilience. Jacek Siewiera (LTCOl Prof., Baltic Strategic Analysis Center) and Mimi Keshani (Hadean) will explore how militaries and industry are designing future forces and capabilities to prepare for conflict on NATO’s flanks and beyond. Expect insights on how foresight, simulation, and advanced technologies are reshaping force development – and how nations can get ready to fight and win in the decades ahead.
From Impossible to Inevitable: Building Hypersonics That Work with Hermeus
What does hypersonics reveal about the way defence innovates? In this fireside chat, Zach Shore (Hermeus) argues the barriers aren’t only technical – they’re cultural. Drawing on experience at Hermeus, Anduril, and in uniform, he’ll explore the need for faster adoption, younger leadership, and building integrated systems rather than stand-alone technologies. Expect a provocative look at hypersonics as a case study in the future of defence innovation.
Is Software-defined Hardware the Next Industrial Revolution? With PhysicsX
Software is reshaping aerospace and defence, with AI-driven simulation and digital engineering accelerating how complex systems are designed and delivered. In this fireside chat, Jacomo Corbo (PhysicsX) and Massimo Maroni (Leonardo) share how startups and primes can collaborate to make this shift real. From proof-of-concept to scale, they’ll explore what it takes to embed cutting-edge software into aerospace programmes and why these partnerships are key to the future of defence innovation.
Launch: 10 early-stage startups will showcase their technology on stage as part of our Launch program.
Launch is the premier startup showcase for early-stage defence and security startups to debut their groundbreaking technologies. Each day, five companies will showcase their technology on stage, then demo during the following networking break.
Discover the full two-day agenda, and purchase your tickets while they’re still available.
