European defence startups now have a formal, legally compliant pathway to test their technologies in Ukraine, thanks to a new initiative by 17Tech.fi in collaboration with Ukraine’s defence-innovation ecosystem. This programme offers structured access to real combat environments, accelerating development and enhancing NATO-Ukraine interoperability.
For years, European defence startups have struggled to access realistic operational environments where new technologies can be tested and validated with end users. The 17Tech Defence Tech Accelerator addresses this challenge by providing selected companies with structured testing programs, front-line feedback loops, and opportunities to deploy prototypes in controlled operational scenarios. Participants will also receive business support and access to several defence forces.
Through this collaboration, 17Tech.fi and Ukrainian defence innovation bodies, including Defence Builder, offer a framework for controlled field testing, pilot deployments, and systematic front-line feedback. This approach significantly shortens development time, improves product relevance, and aligns European capabilities with urgent Ukrainian operational needs.
17Tech.fi brings extensive experience in defence industry innovation and startup acceleration. The team has designed and operated accelerators in Europe and Asia, financed hundreds of early-stage companies, and supported defence forces in multiple countries in building new innovation models and technology evaluation frameworks.
Sami Luukkonen, Founding Partner at 17Tech, underscores the importance of structured access: “For years, European innovators have lacked a safe, legal, and operationally relevant environment to validate defence technologies. Ukraine offers a uniquely demanding testbed, and our role is to create a professional, transparent, and responsible pathway for companies to work with official defence counterparts. This is not about speed alone – it is about ensuring that the right technologies reach the right users with real data behind them.”
Antti Kosunen, co-founder of 17Tech, highlights the critical nature of real-world testing: “Our role is to ensure that companies enter this environment with the right preparation, the right partners, and a clear framework that benefits both innovators and front-line users. This accelerator is, in my view, the most effective way for defence startups to find real product–market fit. In defence, true demand is defined by the battlefield — not by presentations, prototypes, or theoretical use cases. When companies receive direct feedback from units operating under real combat conditions, they quickly learn what works, what fails, and what must be improved. That level of validation shortens development cycles by months or even years and prevents teams from investing in the wrong features. Nothing brings a product to market readiness faster than exposure to actual operational needs.”
Defence startups in Europe and allied countries can apply to join the 17Tech Defence Tech Accelerator until December 15th, 2025. This initiative not only accelerates technological development but also strengthens the defence capabilities of both Europe and Ukraine, fostering a collaborative and innovative approach to addressing modern security challenges.