Defence Builder
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersKharkiv, Ukraine
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Defence Builder firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Defence Builder
- Legal name
- Public Union "Defence Builder"
- Website
- https://defencebuilder.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Defence Builder industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Defence Tech Accelerator and Venture Investment
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Venture Studios / Company Builders (FSANAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD), Corporate Venture Studios & Incubators (Build/launch ventures) (FSANAHAC)
Keywords
Where Defence Builder is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kharkiv
- HQ country
- Ukraine
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Defence Builder business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Accelerator Program Fees: Structured 4-month cohort program for early-stage defence tech companies with working prototypes, covering venture building, product building, and network building tracks
- Venture Fund Investments: Early-stage VC investments from pre-seed to Series A, targeting $100,000-$300,000 per company in Ukrainian-founded defence tech with NATO-scaling potential
- Capabilities Services: Modular engagement covering sector intelligence, venture deals advisory, due diligence, and governance services for defence tech companies and investors
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Base grant for all participating teams |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Top performer additional grants from Defence Builder |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Total potential grant support per company |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Fund ticket size |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Defence Builder product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Defence Builder is a full-cycle defence tech ecosystem that scouts and accelerates early-stage Ukrainian defence technology startups through a 4-month cohort program progressing them from TRL 3-4 to TRL 6-7, invests $100,000-$300,000 per company through a $5 million early-stage venture fund, and delivers modular sector intelligence, venture deal advisory, due diligence, and corporate governance services to defence tech companies, investors, and institutions seeking NATO-market entry.
Product overview
Defence Builder is a full-cycle Ukrainian defense-tech ecosystem comprising three core divisions: DB Accelerator (4-month cohort program developing companies from TRL 3-4 to TRL 6-7), DB Fund ($5M early-stage venture fund investing $100K-$300K per company), and DB Capabilities (advisory services including sector intelligence, venture deals advisory, due diligence, and governance). The ecosystem connects defense startups with military experts, NATO market access, and international investors. Portfolio companies span unmanned aerial systems (UAVs), ground robotics (UGVs), electronic warfare, maritime drones, autonomous intercept systems, and counter-drone technologies — including named products such as MaXon Systems' autonomous Shahed interceptor, Buntar Aerospace's GPS-free ISR platform, WingTech's HABA bomber drone, Trident's AI guidance module, and TAUREX's robotic logistics platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- DB Accelerator: 4-month cohort-based accelerator transforming battlefield innovations into scalable ventures with intensive business and military tracks, rapid testing, and founder support. TRL 3-4 to TRL 6-7 within months.
- DB Fund
- DB Capabilities
Products and services
- DB Accelerator A 4-month cohort-based accelerator that selects early-stage defence tech companies with working prototypes and develops them end-to-end through structured modules, battlefield testing with Ukrainian frontline units, and NATO AQAP standards preparation, progressing from TRL 3-4 to TRL 6-7. Targeted at founders and teams in UAV, UGV, EW, C2, ISR, C-UAS, comms, sensors, and engine verticals from pre-seed to Series A.
- DB Fund $5 million early-stage venture fund that invests $100,000-$300,000 per company in Ukrainian-founded defence tech startups with NATO-scaling potential. Sourced from the DB Accelerator pipeline and broader partner network across UAV, UGV, EW, radars, C-UAS, comms, sensors, and engine sectors; founders co-invest alongside.
- DB Capabilities Modular advisory services covering sector intelligence, independent validation, military testing and trials facilitation, market entry advisory, venture deals advisory, due diligence under NATO AQAP standards, M&A transaction support, and corporate governance building. Available standalone or as modular blocks for defence tech companies, investors, and institutions entering or operating in the defence market; each service backed by 50+ institutional partners and domain experts.
Quantifiable outcome
- TRL progression from 3-4 to 6-7 within months
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Defence Builder
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Defence Builder technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability7 records
Feature3 records
Defence Builder partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Sigma Software GroupcoreCo-founder of Defence Builder Ecosystem. Sigma Software Group provides technology expertise and operational leadership, with Board Member Valery Krasovsky (Co-founder IT company from TOP 100 global) involved in Strategy & Tech.
- Kyiv School of Economics (KSE)coreCo-founder providing macro & policy expertise. Dr Tymofiy Mylovanov, Associate Professor at Pittsburgh and ex-Minister of Economy of Ukraine, serves as ecosystem advisor. KSE Institute produces joint research on Ukraine's defence tech market.
- Buntar AerospacecoreCo-founder providing aerospace and defence tech expertise. Ivan Kaunov, Co-Founder & CEO of Buntar Aerospace, serves as Innovation & Validation lead. Buntar Aerospace is also a portfolio company of DB Fund.
- Brave1coreGovernment defence tech cluster with 1,500+ companies and $2.2B+ in grants. Provides battlefield-tested pipeline, grant funding coordination, and integration with Ukraine's defence innovation ecosystem.
- Ministry of Defence of UkrainecoreGovernment partner for defence policy, procurement, and AFU coordination. Provides direct access to military requirements and procurement pathways.
- Armed Forces of UkrainecorePrimary end-user providing operational real-environment feedback for live testing. Includes ground, air, naval, and special operations forces.
- General CherryflagshipPrincipal partner of Demo Day 3.0, awarded $25,000 each to WingTech, Trident, NEBOSTRAZH, and Frost Works. Leading Ukrainian defence-tech company specialising in advanced unmanned systems development and mass production.
- 93rd Mechanised Brigade Kholodnyi YarminorOrganiser of Wild Drones 2026 event connecting drone developers with frontline operators.
- VARDIANminorConsultancy preparing defence manufacturers for NATO/Western cooperation and market entry.
- DI Danish Defence and Security IndustriesminorEuropean industry association providing defence network access and potential distribution channels for Danish market.
- UCDI Investor ClubcoreUkrainian Council of Defence Industry Investor Club launched October 2025, uniting 15 investment funds including Darkstar VC, UA1, D3 VC for coordinating defence tech investment. Investments increased nearly 100-fold from $1.1M in 2023 to $105.2M in 2025.
- Ukrainian Arab Business Chamber / Ukrainian Business Council DubaiminorCo-Founder Olena Shyrokova meeting with Defence Builder's Board Member Valery Krasovsky to discuss entry points for Ukrainian defence tech into Gulf market. Partnership structures available through UBC's network across the Emirates.
- U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC)minorCo-organiser of Defence Day at URC 2026 in Gdańsk alongside Defence Builder, KSE Institute, General Cherry, and Ukrainian Council of Defence Industry.
- BlueShadow (Denmark)minorDanish maritime intelligence company developing autonomous naval vessel systems with four squadrons of 12 vessels. Presented Blue Dragon system at Field Demo Day for monitoring airborne threats over Black Sea.
- European Defense Tech HubminorPartner in University Defense Tech Forum organised alongside Kyiv School of Economics, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, and Brave1.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Defence Builder competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Defence Builder social profiles
Digital presenceDefence Builder financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Defence Builder leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Defence Builder funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Defence Builder M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments4 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Defence Builder
What does Defence Builder do?
Defence Builder is a full-cycle defence tech ecosystem that scouts and accelerates early-stage Ukrainian defence technology startups through a 4-month cohort program progressing them from TRL 3-4 to TRL 6-7, invests $100,000-$300,000 per company through a $5 million early-stage venture fund, and delivers modular sector intelligence, venture deal advisory, due diligence, and corporate governance services to defence tech companies, investors, and institutions seeking NATO-market entry.
Is Defence Builder a public or private company?
Defence Builder is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Defence Builder founded?
Defence Builder was founded in 2024. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Defence Builder based?
Defence Builder is headquartered in Kharkiv, Ukraine, in the Europe region.
How does Defence Builder make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Accelerator Program Fees are the primary driver. The others are venture Fund Investments and capabilities Services.
Does Defence Builder have an API?
No public API is recorded for Defence Builder.
What industry is Defence Builder in?
Defence Builder's product category is Defence Tech Accelerator and Venture Investment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAH, Venture Studios / Company Builders, with a secondary code of FSANAAAD, Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists). Its SIC code is 8700.