European Investors Launch the First Pan-European Network of Business Angels Dedicated to DefenceTech and Strategic Innovation
Paris, the 29th of October — Bpifrance, the French Public Investment Bank, has launched its first edition of the European Defence Week in Paris. This event marks a milestone for Europe’s strategic startups, with the announcement of Defence Angels European Network – DAEN – the first pan-European network of Business Angels dedicated to DefenceTech and strategic innovation.
For the first time, private investors from across the continent are joining forces to support Europe’s most promising start-ups in defence, dual-use, and critical technologies — from advanced materials to drones, space, cybersecurity, and quantum.
The DAEN initiative is inspired by the French Défense Angels network, the first Business Angels structure in Europe dedicated to financing strategic startups.
This initiative is supported by the two European federations of Business Angels, Business Angels Europe and the European Business Angel Network, as well as two national federations, France Angels and Italian Business Angels Association, alongside numerous Business Angels networks from across the EU Member States. It aims to close the early-stage funding gap for start-ups developing technologies essential to Europe’s security, resilience, and competitiveness.
This creation of the network has also involved many institutional partners, including Bpifrance, notably through its international matchmaking platform EuroQuity, the French Ministry of Defence as well as several other European actors, underlining the growing recognition that Europe’s strategic autonomy depends on its ability to finance its own defence innovation. The initiative was welcomed by European institutions, such as the European Commission and the European Investment Bank.
Built as an open and collaborative platform, the network will foster cross-border co-investment, share expertise among Angel investors, and connect DefenceTech entrepreneurs with industrial, financial and institutional partners. It will also act as a bridge between public instruments — such as the European Defence Fund, the Defence Equity Facility or the European Innovation Council — and Europe’s private investment community.
With this new initiative, Europe takes a decisive step toward building a stronger, more connected innovation ecosystem capable of sustaining its own strategic needs.
“In his report on “the Future of European competitiveness,” Mario Draghi underlines: “Europe must refocus its collective efforts on reducing the innovation gap with the United States and China, especially regarding advanced technologies.” This is the aim of the Defence Angels European Network’s creation. DAEN’s structure is inspired by the proven and agile models of Business Angel networks focusing on specific sectors. It leverages the success of the first and only BA network specialized in Defence and Security in France, to roll it out across Europe, with the aim of redirecting private savings from European countries to early-stage Strategic European Startups. Our conviction is that DAEN’s success can only be collective, depending on the active support and actions from all European stakeholders.” – Guy Gourevitch, President of Défense Angels.
“At Bpifrance, we are multiplying initiatives to strengthen Europe’s defence and technological sovereignty, from the € 450 million Bpifrance Defence Fund open to individual investors, to supporting networks like DAEN that bring together experienced business angels around dual-use innovation. Thanks to our matchmaking platform EuroQuity, these investors will be able to connect with all the strategic partners of the European Defense Alliance community, helping to accelerate the rise of European champions that will secure our sovereignty.” – Pascal Lagarde, Executive Director, Strategy, Development, International Affairs and ESG of Bpifrance.
“Europe needs bold investors who understand the strategic importance of defence innovation in securing our societal wealth, and within that framework, business angels are uniquely positioned to support this sector – not just with capital, but with vision and networks. BAE is proud to support and take an active role in Defence Angels European Network and help build a resilient, cross-border investment ecosystem.” – Reginald Vossen, President of Business Angels Europe.
“EBAN has a long tradition of investing in Space and most recently in Space & Defence. Already, when we started EBAN Space in 2016 we were investing in Dual Mission ventures. In particular, EBAN’s very large representation from the Eastern European countries gives us a large pool of both entrepreneurs and investors to draw on for Defence Angels European Network. We are also most pleased to include representatives from ESA and EUSPA as well as a large number of European Space & Defence VC’s, such as Expansion, Seraphim, Primo Space, Triangle Ventures, NOVA Space, DEPO Ventures, along with Défense Angels, LitBAN, LBAN, FiBAN, Access Space, BSV Ventures, etc. within our EBAN Space & Defense Executive Committee.” – Ted Elvhage, Chairman of EBAN Space & Defense.
“We are proud to be contributing to the security of Europe with the Defence Angels European Network.” – Candace Johnson, EBAN President Emeritus and EBAN Space & Defense Executive Committee Member.
“France Angels has built a matrix organization to support ‘agnostic’ territorial Business Angels Networks and Early-Stage Investors with Sectorial Networks such as Defence or Healthcare. We are really proud to announce this important milestone for Défense Angels to expand in Europe. We remain committed to extend it to other Sectorial Networks.” – Alain Pujol, France Angels Co-President.
“As representatives of Italian Business Angels, and as actors of the Franco-Italian cooperation on innovation support and investment, we are delighted to support the creation of this new pan-European network.” – Paolo Anselmo, President of IBAN.
“The launch of the Defence Angels European Network is an important milestone for EU’s security. This initiative is in line with the Commission’s effort to build a stronger defence innovation ecosystem through EU cooperation and support the full investment journey of start-ups and scale-ups developing innovative defence solutions.” – Guillaume de la Brosse, Head of Unit for Defence policy & innovation, European Commission (DG DEFIS).
““Cross-border investments” and “pan-European” are two key words in our current reality, that align with the values and objectives of the EIB Group: autonomy, leadership, preparedness and strategic investments. It is encouraging to see that all layers of the economic ecosystem are now moving in this same direction, and it should give us hope that we can support each other in the process. We need to think about interoperability, efficiency and benefiting from each other’s strengths. With this in mind, the EIB is supporting and encouraging this new initiative. We look forward to financing companies that will have been nurtured by the European Defence Angels Network.” – Andra Migiu, Head of Division, Security and Defence Office, European Investment Bank.
“The European Innovation Council has always relied on business angels and their networks to identify and support deep tech startups in Europe. We are looking forward to working with the DAEN in order to support the fast-emerging ecosystem in dual use technologies in Europe.” – Stéphane Ouaki, EIC head of Department and EISMEA acting Director.
About the Initiative
Defence Angels European Network is an independent, non-profit initiative bringing together private investors, entrepreneurs, and innovation leaders across the European Union. Supported by the main European Business Angels federations and many national networks, it aims to accelerate investment in early-stage DefenceTech and strategic start-ups through pan-European coordination, co-investment, and shared expertise.
Press Contact
Emmanuel ANKRI, Board Member / Défense Angels
emmanuel.ankri@defenseangels.org / +336 12 19 65 49
About Bpifrance
Bpifrance is the French national investment bank: it finances businesses – at every stage of their development – through loans, guarantees, equity investments and export insurances. Bpifrance also provides extra financial services (training, consultancy) to help entrepreneurs meet their challenges (innovation, export…).
For more information, please visit: https://www.bpifrance.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn : Bpifrance LinkedIn and on X : @Bpifrance – @BpifrancePresse
Press Contact
Claire JOLY, Media Relations / Bpifrance
claire.joly@bpifrance.fr / +336 69 47 14 76