DefTechPod

DefTechLink.com

DefTechLink podcasts are practical conversations about how defence markets actually work, starting with the United States and extending to the UK and allied systems. We speak with practitioners, operators, founders, and programme insiders about funding, experimentation, procurement, and why transitions stall or succeed. The focus is lived experience, not hype: what decisions matter, where risk sits, and how defence pathways behave in practice.

  1. MAY 14

    Too Small to Be a Target? Steve Mason and Dave Collins on Cyber Risk, Defence SMEs and Why Waiting Costs More

    In this episode of DefTechPod, Erica Dill-Russell speaks with Steve Mason, founder and CEO of Nova Blue Technologies and former technical director at GCHQ, and Dave Collins OBE, senior director for cybersecurity at Nova Blue and former Royal Air Force officer. The conversation looks at what cybersecurity really means for companies working in and around UK and NATO defence. Steve and Dave explain why small and medium-sized companies are not too small to be targeted, how adversaries use supply chains and digital infrastructure as attack surfaces, and why cyber risk is now a business and operational issue, not just a technical one. They also discuss Cyber Essentials, the MOD cybersecurity model, the Defence Cyber Certification framework, and the gap between basic cyber hygiene and what defence customers may expect. For SMEs, the message is practical: start early, build cyber into your business roadmap, understand your cloud security settings, use multi-factor authentication, and treat cyber readiness as part of being credible in the defence market. This episode is for founders, SMEs, dual-use companies, defence suppliers and anyone trying to understand what cyber readiness means before it becomes a blocker to growth, contracts or survival.

    40 min

  2. MAY 7

    Ukraine’s Defence Tech Ecosystem: Denys Demko on Brave1, Battlefield Iteration and Allied Innovation

    In this episode of DefTechPod, Erica speaks with Denys Demko, Economic Secretary at the Embassy of Ukraine in the United Kingdom, about Ukraine’s defence technology ecosystem and what allied companies, investors and partners can learn from it. Denys explains how Ukraine’s defence sector has grown under wartime pressure, with thousands of companies now operating across drones, UGVs, electronic warfare, air defence, AI and battlefield data. The conversation looks at why Ukraine’s innovation cycle can move in weeks rather than years, how developers work directly with military users, and why operational feedback has become central to capability development. The episode also covers Brave1, Ukraine’s defence innovation platform, and how international companies can engage with testing, partnerships and investment routes. Denys discusses the importance of working with Ukrainian industry rather than simply trying to sell into Ukraine, the role of local presence and collaboration, and why investors should pay closer attention to battlefield-tested Ukrainian defence technologies. For companies, investors and ecosystem organisations trying to understand Ukraine beyond the headlines, this is a practical conversation about urgency, adaptation, procurement, partnership and the realities of building technology in wartime.

    33 min

  3. MAY 1

    Cold Weather, Real Lessons: Anssi Aikio on Arctic Testing and Defence Innovation in Finland

    In this episode of DefTechPod, Erica Dill-Russell speaks with Anssi Aikio of XD Solutions about Finnish defence innovation, Arctic testing, and why cold-weather experimentation matters far more than many companies realise. The conversation explores how XD Solutions works with the Finnish Defence Forces and the wider Finnish defence ecosystem to connect emerging technology with real operational needs. Anssi explains where Finland is making progress, where the system is still fragmented, and how companies can begin to engage, whether through ecosystems, innovation networks, or practical testing opportunities. A major focus of the episode is Griffin Tech Days, the large-scale Arctic event run on behalf of the Finnish Defence Forces and Finnish Special Operations Forces. Erica and Anssi discuss what companies actually learn when they test in extreme cold, from battery failure and de-icing issues to glove compatibility, brittle components, and the simple reality that laboratory testing is not the same as three days above the Arctic Circle. They also get into a point that more founders need to hear: failure in a demanding test environment is not always a negative outcome. Often it is the fastest way to understand what needs fixing before a technology reaches operators in the field. The episode looks at how companies should prepare for these events, why the right technical people need to be in the room long before demo day, and how much better performance tends to be when firms treat preparation seriously. The conversation closes with a look at the technologies currently catching attention in Finland, including battery innovation, Arctic mobility, sensor integration, GNSS-denied navigation, and practical solutions for harsh operational environments. It also highlights what is coming next through XD Solutions, SOF Week, and future Nordic testing opportunities.

    34 min

  4. APR 23

    From Hype to Capability: Nico Nelson on Defence-First Investing in Europe

    In this episode of DefTechPod, Erica Dill-Russell speaks with Nico Nelson, founding general partner of Archangel Ventures, about what it really takes to build, back, and scale defence technology in Europe. Drawing on two decades across defence, intelligence, national security, corporate strategy, and investing, Nico brings a sharp view of where founders, investors, and institutions still get things wrong. The conversation tackles one of the biggest questions in defence tech right now: whether companies can genuinely succeed as dual-use businesses in the early stages. Nico explains why Archangel backs defence-first and defence-only companies, why trying to serve both commercial and defence markets too early often weakens focus, and why Europe still struggles with the underlying definitions and funding structures around defence. Erica and Nico also get into the practical reality of scaling across Europe. They discuss why defence markets cannot be treated as interchangeable, why country-to-country differences matter more than many founders expect, and how factors such as landed requirements, interoperability relationships, domestic capability priorities, and regional trust all shape whether a market is genuinely attractive. They then turn to venture capital itself: what defence-focused investors should actually be doing beyond writing cheques, how hype can distort the market, and why marketing that outruns real capability is dangerous not just for investors, but for governments and end users as well. Nico sets out Archangel’s view that capital must be paired with operational judgement, technical roadmapping, investor readiness, and access to credible defence pathways if early-stage companies are going to survive the journey from promise to adoption. The episode closes with a wider look at the future of European defence tech: which technologies are overhyped, where Nico sees real capability gaps, why open architectures and collaboration matter more than ever, and what a healthier long-term ecosystem could look like if Europe builds a stronger chain from angel capital through to growth and liquidity.

    42 min

  5. APR 16

    Sovereignty, Security, and Defence Software: Luca Leone on Kahootz and Building for the Real World

    In this episode, Erica Dill-Russell speaks with Luca Leone, CEO of Kahootz, about secure collaboration in defence, what sovereignty actually means in practice, and why these questions matter far more than many early-stage companies realise. Luca brings a rare mix of experience across engineering, defence business development, innovation support, and software leadership, and the conversation gets into the less glamorous but very real layers that sit underneath effective defence work. They discuss how Kahootz grew from a healthcare-focused collaboration platform into a long-standing defence supplier, and why secure information-sharing is not a side issue but part of the architecture that allows defence, government, and industry to work together properly. The episode looks at sovereignty beyond the usual buzzwords, including not just where data sits, but who controls the platform, who supports it, where it is developed, and how far down the supply chain those questions need to be asked. The conversation also covers cyber risk, supply-chain vulnerability, and the practical tension between security and usability. Luca explains why organisations cannot just lock everything down and hope for the best, why people remain one of the biggest risks, and why resilience matters just as much as prevention. There is also a very useful discussion about the reality of secure-by-design approaches, the burden this places on smaller firms, and the trade-offs companies have to make when they cannot afford to build an entirely sovereign stack. The second half of the episode turns to Luca’s role with Constellation Software and the world of defence software M&A. They discuss what makes a software company attractive from an acquisition perspective, what investors and acquirers want to hear, and why understanding the customer properly is still one of the clearest signals of a serious company. For founders building in defence software, this is a very grounded conversation about growth, relevance, and long-term value. If you work in defence software, secure collaboration, cyber, government technology, or are trying to understand how sovereignty, resilience, and customer understanding fit together, this episode is well worth a listen.

    33 min

  6. APR 8

    Australia, AUKUS, and Defence Innovation: Jake Bostock on Access, Investment, and What Matters

    In this episode, Erica Dill-Russell speaks with Jake Bostock, Technology Scout at Beaten Zone Venture Partners and an Australian Army reservist working in capability development, about the realities of the Australian defence market, AUKUS Pillar 2, and why Australia can be both a valuable landing point and a difficult market to break into. They discuss what makes Australia different from the U.S. and UK, why a smaller defence market creates less room for blue-sky experimentation, and how companies often need to arrive with credibility already built elsewhere. Jake explains the Australian innovation architecture, the role of organisations such as Jericho, Army Battle Labs, SOCOM innovation groups, and ASCA, and why companies need to understand what these pathways actually offer before investing too much time in them. The conversation also looks at where attention is moving in the Indo-Pacific, with particular focus on maritime capability, autonomy, counter-UAS, and systems that can operate in littoral environments. Jake gives a very practical view of what is drawing interest, where the real opportunities are, and why companies looking at APAC often need a more grounded market-entry strategy than they first expect. They also discuss the defence venture capital landscape in Australia, including what dual-use and lethality-focused investment looks like, typical cheque sizes, and how companies should approach investors in the space. The episode closes with a candid discussion about veterans moving into defence industry, the value they bring beyond networks alone, and why lived operational context is often far more useful than companies realise. For anyone trying to understand AUKUS opportunity, Australian defence innovation pathways, or how to think more realistically about market entry in the region, this is a very useful conversation.

    32 min

  7. APR 2

    From Norway to Washington: Chloe Friberg on NADIC, Defence Industry Support, and U.S. Access

    In this episode of DefTechPod, Erica Dill-Russell speaks with Chloe Friberg, President of the Norwegian American Defense and Homeland Security Industry Council, about what serious market entry support actually looks like when a country is trying to help its defence companies succeed in the United States. They discuss how NADIC became a practical bridge between Norwegian industry and the U.S. defence ecosystem, why the wider Team Norway model works, and what other countries can learn from it. The conversation gets beyond the usual language of international collaboration and into the mechanics that matter: trusted networks, embassy support, trade associations, service providers, conferences, pavilions, and the steady work of helping companies show up in the right rooms with the right message. Chloe explains how NADIC grew from an industry-led need into a mature support structure, backed by close coordination across government, industry, and research organisations. They also speak candidly about the harder side of entering the U.S. market. Presence matters. Repetition matters. Budget matters. This episode is a useful listen for companies that assume one visit, one conference, or one good meeting is enough. Erica and Chloe discuss why it usually is not, why relationships still need to be built in person, and why some of the most valuable opportunities happen in the gaps between formal meetings. If you are a defence or dual-use company thinking about the U.S. market, or trying to understand what a well-supported national ecosystem can look like in practice, this is a very grounded discussion.

    37 min

  8. MAR 25

    Breaking into U.S. Defence: Colonel Naff on FCT, Access, and What Actually Works

    For many international defence companies, entering the U.S. Department of War can feel slow, opaque, and highly competitive. This episode challenges that assumption. Erica Dill-Russell is joined by Colonel Jeffrey Naff, Director of the Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) Program, to unpack one of the most underused and misunderstood pathways into U.S. defence acquisition. FCT exists for a specific purpose: to identify, validate, and transition non-U.S. technologies into U.S. military use. It is not a traditional competition route, and it does not behave like most acquisition programmes. Instead, it acts as a bridge between international innovation and U.S. service demand. In this conversation, Colonel Naff explains how FCT actually works in practice, where companies go wrong, and what makes the difference between being noticed and being ignored. Key themes covered: What FCT is and why it exists within U.S. defence acquisitionWhy submitting your technology is not the same as applying for fundingThe role of “socialisation” and why relationships still matterHow FCT enables direct, sole-source acquisition for international technologiesWhat “verification and validation” really means and why speed mattersCommon misconceptions that prevent companies from progressingWhy persistence, not process-following, is often the deciding factorOne of the most important insights from this episode is simple: FCT does not replace other routes into the U.S. market. It sits alongside them. The companies that succeed are the ones that pursue multiple paths at once and keep pushing until they create traction. As Colonel Naff puts it, there is no single entry point, and no single right way in. But there is a consistent pattern among those who make it through. They do not stop. About the guest:Colonel Jeffrey Naff is the Director of the Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) Program within the Office of the Secretary of War for Research and Engineering. He leads efforts to identify and transition international technologies into U.S. military capability, working across all services and acquisition bodies.

    35 min
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About

DefTechLink podcasts are practical conversations about how defence markets actually work, starting with the United States and extending to the UK and allied systems. We speak with practitioners, operators, founders, and programme insiders about funding, experimentation, procurement, and why transitions stall or succeed. The focus is lived experience, not hype: what decisions matter, where risk sits, and how defence pathways behave in practice.

Information

  • Creator
    DefTechLink.com
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © DefTechLink.com
  • Show Website
    DefTechPod

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