Winning with Defence Tech

Rasmus Basilier

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Supporting defence and dual use innovators with the knowledge they need to get their tech into the hands of the warfighter. We stay practical - learning about the battlefield, finding opportunities for validation, helping you progress in your path to empower the defence of the alliance.

4D AGO

How to Get Your Tech Adopted w. Krists Avots

Krists is an Entrepreneur in Residence at Unilab Defense — a NATO DIANA acceleration site — and the founder of a new defense tech startup building agentic soldier augmentation systems. He’s evaluated hundreds of defense startups and worked closely with both European innovation programs and Ukrainian forces on the frontline. In this conversation, we go deep into why brilliant technology often dies in the gap between the lab and the battlefield. Krists breaks down the massive mismatch between how civilian founders think and how military end-users actually operate. What You’ll Discover: - The single biggest reason most defense tech startups never get traction - How military buyers really think — long time horizons, risk, credibility, and why they still use 70s-80s era equipment - Why Ukraine has become the ultimate testing ground for modern warfare technology - Practical ways for founders to understand real Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and speak the military’s language - The brutal economics of defense tech: long sales cycles, iteration speed, capital requirements, and survivability - What’s coming next after drones — human-machine teaming, mass manufacturing, and the future battlefield - How to actually get access to real end-users in Europe and Ukraine If you’re building anything in defense, dual-use, deep tech, or government-adjacent spaces this episode is for you

35 min
APR 21

Your drinking water is not as safe as you think w. Gregor Zupin

In this episode, Rasmus sits down with Gregor Zupin, founder of Microbium, to explore how modern militaries can solve one of their most persistent and dangerous challenges: ensuring access to safe drinking water during operations. When military units move into new areas, water sources — whether streams, springs, or building pipelines — are often contaminated with bacteria like E. coli or Legionella. These pathogens can’t be detected by smell, taste, or appearance, yet they can cause outbreaks that sideline soldiers within just 1–5 days. Gregor explains why the traditional lab-based testing process is too slow and impractical for fast-moving or forward-deployed forces: samples must be collected, shipped to external labs, cultured for days, and results communicated back — all while units are on the move. Microbium’s innovative MPN Analyzer changes this. It’s a compact, battery-powered “lab-in-a-box” that delivers lab-accurate results for total coliforms and E. coli in as little as 8 hours. No microbiologist required — any soldier can perform the test on-site. Gregor shares real-world insights from field trials with the NATO Center of Excellence for Mountain Warfare in the Alps, where scouts tested 60 water sources ahead of unit movement. Shockingly, several sources failed military and national safety standards, highlighting how common the risk truly is. The conversation also covers valuable feedback from the defense sector, upcoming product improvements (ruggedization, temperature control, and potential integrated disinfection), and how Microbium’s technology could extend beyond water testing to other microbiological challenges in the field. If you’re interested in defense innovation, force protection, or practical solutions for operational readiness, this episode is a must-listen. Key Topics: The hidden dangers of water contamination in military operationsWhy traditional lab testing fails in dynamic environmentsHow the MPN Analyzer enables rapid, on-site water quality testingReal results from NATO mountain warfare trialsFuture applications in disinfection and soldier healthCheck out Microbium and their groundbreaking work in making water testing fast, accurate, and field-ready. Gregor Zupin Experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the field of industrial microbiology and sales. Skilled in Laboratory Devices, Entrepreneurship, Quality Assurance, Molecular Biology. Strong business development professional graduated from COTRUGLI Business School. https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorzupin/

13 min
APR 14

The path to sell in defence (and get invested along the way) w. Khanjan Desai

In this episode, Rasmus sits down with Kanjan Desai, CEO and co-founder of Alchemy, a Canadian nanotechnology company revolutionizing thermal camouflage for modern warfare. Khanjan explains the limitations of today's legacy thermal camouflage—shiny metallized fabrics that are unbreathable, cause "bleed-through" as they heat up, and create unnatural reflections easily spotted by drones and sensors. Alchemy's breakthrough Crypsis Class nanoparticle platform embeds into textiles, paints, and films to reflect body heat while diffusely scattering environmental reflections—making soldiers, weapons, and vehicles blend seamlessly into their surroundings like a "really s****y mirror" that looks just like a rock or the ground. The conversation dives into: How nanotechnology enables breathable, scalable thermal signature management without the sauna-like discomfort of traditional solutions.Real-world battlefield challenges in sensor-saturated environments (as seen in Ukraine).Applications for uniforms, ghillie suits, sniper gear, vehicles, and more—improving stealth, first-strike capability, and mission survivability.The shift toward hyperspectral imaging and autonomous targeting, and why Alchemy is engineering signatures for the future, not just today's thermal cameras.Khanjan also shares candid insights on scaling a defense tech startup: navigating opaque procurement processes, prioritizing markets (starting with Canada and eastern flank NATO allies), the power of networks and advisors, lessons from the NATO DIANA accelerator, and why focus beats trying to "win everywhere" when opportunities flood in. From early struggles in automotive nanocoatings to securing major defense contracts and a $6M raise, this is a raw look at building dual-use deep tech in a high-stakes sector. Guest: Khanjan Desai – CEO & Co-Founder, Alchemy https://www.linkedin.com/in/khanjandesai/ Alchemy: alchemynano.com (or link your site)

38 min
APR 7

How investment in Defence Tech works w. Farid Singh

In this episode, I sit down with Farid Singh from Nexwin — a seasoned investor, engineer, and operator specializing in defense and dual-use cybersecurity. With 38 investments, over 55 deals, and more than 100 investment committees under his belt, Farid shares hard-earned insights for startups in the defense and security space. We dive into: Farid’s unconventional (and controversial) take on patents in defense — and why they can sometimes hurt more than helpWhy 18 months is the ideal runway for early-stage defense startupsHow to use capital as “gasoline on the fire” rather than just survival moneyWhy showing real progress and execution matters more than perfect numbers in the beginningHow to leverage the current window in Ukraine and Europe for fast product testing and validationThe importance of choosing investors and advisors who actually understand the verticalBuilding the right team and gaining market access in a highly nationalistic and slow-moving industryFarid blends sharp advice from both the investor and builder perspective, with real-world stories — including early wins, tough rejections, and what separates serious founders from the rest. One of the most valuable episodes yet for anyone building or investing in deep tech, dual-use, or defense-related startups in 2026. Perfect listening if you want to understand how to navigate the new reality of European defense innovation. About Farid Singh (from his LinkedIn): Curious by nature. Relentless in execution. I build products and scale innovation across continents, industries, and technologies. With 13+ years in product leadership and a unique blend of Venture Capital, Startup, Defence, and Telecom experience, I transform ideas and research into market-winning solutions. As a VP Product, I’ve delivered and launched products spanning 5 continents, investing and advising at the intersection of tech, security, and innovation and mentoring over 200 startups (and conducting diligence for 150+ more). I have invested in 38 companies and have 50+ deals so far. Known for synthesizing big-picture vision with tactical drive, I thrive on challenges that demand cross-disciplinary thinking—from wireless and edge computing to AI, IoT, and emerging tech. Whether inspiring intrapreneurship in Fortune 500s, keynoting global conferences, or deploying innovation programs at scale, I bring creative energy and a bias for action. Outside work? I’ve traveled to 63+ countries, research corporate happiness, and can outspin you on a salsa floor.I love connecting with fellow innovators and outliers. Looking for a mentor, advisor, or senior executive to collaborate on products that haven’t been invented yet? Message me and let’s make something remarkable happen. https://www.linkedin.com/in/farid-singh-823b391/ ps. huge thank you to UniLab in Latvia for the podcast setup!

38 min
MAR 21

What's new in RF w. Amol Parikh

- Multi-band frequency agility, rapid band/channel switching, spectrum scanning, - Spoofing techniques to mask actual operating frequencies (my personal favourite), and - Dual-radio configurations for redundancy and throughput optimization in mesh/relay networks. Amol Parikh⁠ from ⁠Doodle Labs⁠ explains all these concepts (and more) in the latest podcast. If you want to understand how electronic communications works in the modern battlefield, this episode is for you.

43 min
FEB 6

All ships will be nuclear w. Roope Marttila from Seatom

NATO DIANA innovator Roope Marttila shares his insights from his participation, what is the current state of nuclear reactors on ships and where things are going.

48 min
JAN 13

Millog, Rasmus Basilier: Europe’s Defense Awakening: Procurement, War, and the Startup Reality (Sparkmind Capital Podcast)

In this podcast episode, Colin Brown interviews Rasmus Basilier, a prominent figure in the defense technology space. Rasmus shares his journey from a childhood dream of becoming a soldier to his current role in defense accelerators and technology validation. The conversation explores the evolving defense ecosystem in Europe, the impact of the Ukraine war on military strategies, and the challenges of procurement in the defense sector. Rasmus emphasizes the importance of validation and testing for defense technologies, the role of logistics and economics in warfare, and the current investment landscape in defense startups. He also highlights innovative companies making strides in the defense space and concludes with thoughts on the future of defense technology and national security.

44 min
JAN 8

Accelerating your defence innovation and working in defence tech - Rasmus Basilier from Millog (Mighty Finland recording)

Wondering how to grow your defence company in terms of innovation, testing or other support? How to accelerate growth? Rasmus haas the answers!Rasmus Basilier works for Millog, the company we usually know from logistics, but that also helps smaller companies grow. We talk to Rasmus about defence innovation, Ukraine, the innovation cycle, what actions can small companies take to grow and what it's like to work in defence tech.We need more defence innovation in Finland! Learn more about how Millog helps companies grow and how they work together with the Finnish Defence Forces.Do you need help, consulting or ideas for your defence innovation? Contact Rasmus!Rasmus.Basilier@millog.filinkedin.com/in/rasmusbasilierhttps://millog.fi/‪@MillogGroup‬ Mighty Finland vaatteet: https://www.photonresearchgroup.fi/pa...Toivo Tornion Panimon ja meidän M/25 Olutta K-kauppaasi: https://www.k-ruoka.fi/artikkelit/k-k...Taistelijan Lehtiö: https://varusteleka.com/products/migh...Mighty Finland Podcastia tehdään meidän mahtavien yhteistyökumppaneiden kanssa:Varusteleka - Reserviläisen karkkikauppa ja meidän luotettu huoltopiste jo vuosien ajan - https://www.varusteleka.fi/fi ‪@varusteleka‬ Savotta - Parhaat kantojärjestelmät sekä muita varusteita maanpuolustukseen ja ulkona liikkumiseen - https://www.savotta.fi/ ‪@Savotta‬ Savox - Kriittisen kommunikaation kärkiosaaja. Never Alone. - https://savox.com/ ‪@SavoxCommunications‬ Kova kunto lisää mielen rohkeutta! Koodilla "Mighty" saat 10% irti Korpitraining valmennuksista tän linkin takaa: https://korpitraining.fi?bg_ref=s3uUb...Ota meihin yhteyttä Instagramin directissä tai laita mailia osoitteeseen info@mightyfinland.fi jos sulla on aiheideoita, ajatuksia vieraista tai muuten vaan rakentavaa palautetta.

1h 43m

Supporting defence and dual use innovators with the knowledge they need to get their tech into the hands of the warfighter. We stay practical - learning about the battlefield, finding opportunities for validation, helping you progress in your path to empower the defence of the alliance.

Creator

Rasmus Basilier
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

13
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Rasmus Basilier
Show Website

Winning with Defence Tech

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Government

Updated Biweekly
History

History

Updated Weekly