About Darkstar
Darkstar is a coalition of individuals and organizations bringing together expertise from unicorn founders, military veterans, investors, and technical leaders. Our mission is to win the war and rearm Europe. We are helping strengthen national security and preparedness for the EU, NATO nations and allies by fostering transformative defence technologies and scaling an industry that thrives on innovation, collaboration, and real-world applicability.
We are actively bridging the gap between modern warfare challenges and the technologies needed to address them. We do this through equity investments, facilitating partnerships across various types of organizations, developing the defence tech ecosystem, resolving market barriers, and by bridging nations.
About Bootcamps
A Bootcamp is an intensive 5-day program designed specifically for defence tech startups, focused on real, deployable capabilities. It brings together military experts, defence tech companies, investors and government stakeholders to share practical insights, validate and test technologies in realistic scenarios, and build partnerships. The emphasis is on hands-on evaluation and direct feedback from experts and military units.
💸 What We Offer
€1.5 million potential funding allocated per bootcamp, rigorous pre-selection of startups, and facilitating direct engagement with military, banking and governmental partners.
💥 Outcomes
Companies receive invaluable feedback, field-testing opportunities and combat validation. Partnerships, integrations, and sales - all on the spot.
💣 Proven Results
From guided munitions to terrain imaging, our alumni have delivered combat-ready solutions that redefine the battlefield.
Future and Past Events
Upcoming Events
📅 Spring 2026 Bootcamp, Kyiv
Bringing the brightest defence tech innovators together for another bootcamp experience.
Apply via futurearmy.camp 👈
Past Events
📅 Autumn 2025 Bootcamp, Kyiv
17 companies from 🇺🇦 🇪🇪 🇱🇹 🇩🇪 joined our 5th Future Army Bootcamp in Kyiv, alongside military units, experts, and investors, culminating in on-the-spot partnerships and a tactical tabletop wargame to strengthen EU-Ukraine military-tech cooperation.
📅 Summer 2025 Bootcamp, Kyiv
📅 Spring 2025 Bootcamp, Kyiv
Brought together 20 companies focusing on counter-UAV ranging from passive detection to intercepton, new-gen ammunition, training systems and surveillance.
📅 Autumn 2024 Bootcamp, Kyiv
Focused on advancements in counter-UAS technologies, alternative navigation systems, sea deterrence innovations, and de-mining solutions.
📅 Summer 2024 Bootcamp, Kyiv
12 companies, 5 integrations on the spot, across UGV platforms, mapping and imaging, laser-guided munitions, and thermal cameras. The event resulted in immediate military orders and ongoing collaborations.
Stay tuned for updates on our bootcamps, hackathons, defence tech meetups and other Darkstar updates on LinkedIn.
join the mission
Darkstar offers pathways for individuals eager to contribute to the mission. Whether you’re a technical expert, financier, legal professional, or military veteran, there’s a need for your skills and vision in the ecosystem.
Technical & deep-domain level expertise in technologies, enterpreneurship, leadership
Innovators seeking to apply cutting-edge technology in defence. Work alongside military professionals to ensure your ideas are combat-ready and impactful.
Banking, finance, legal, government, security
Help shape the evolving defence tech landscape by streamlining banking services, investing, governance, operational and legal frameworks, security.
Military
Share your experience in capability development, advise and work with companies building the next generation of defence technologies.
Broadening the Spectrum
Our work goes beyond technology development. Darkstar addresses systemic challenges across the defence ecosystem, including:
🏛️ Procurements
Helping transform defence procurement processes to align with wartime models. Our goal is to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, embrace flexibility, and replicate proven methods.
🏦 Banking. Finance, Legal
Partnering with banks and governments to create governance frameworks that facilitate the smooth flow of capital. These frameworks are essential for sustaining innovation and rapid deployment.
⚠️ Preparedness & National Security
With facilitating partnerships, enabling integrations, and providing direct support from Darkstar coalition, we help strengthen national security and our collective preparedness.
Stay tuned for updates on our bootcamps, hackathons, defence tech meetups and other Darkstar updates on LinkedIn.
Military and DUAL USE
Darkstar isn’t afraid to confront the difficult realities of modern defence. We invest in military technologies because we believe national security and our militaries need innovation products that address battlefield needs.
Dual-Use
Technologies like cameras, communication modules, satellite imaging, robotics, drones, AI, navigation & guidance systems, serve both military and civilian needs.
Military Single Use
Precision-guided munitions, loitering munitions, remote and autonomous weapon systems - we support the development of systems that address critical battlefield needs. These systems are guided by robust ethical frameworks, ensuring human oversight, compliance with international humanitarian law, and adherence to the Geneva Conventions.
Our commitment is rooted in the belief that defence innovation must adapt to evolving threats while prioritizing ethical responsibility.
