Shows
DefTechPodCold Weather, Real Lessons: Anssi Aikio on Arctic Testing and Defence Innovation in FinlandIn this episode of DefTechPod, Erica Dill-Russell speaks with Anssi Aikio of XD Solutions about Finnish defence innovation, Arctic testing, and why cold-weather experimentation matters far more than many companies realise.The conversation explores how XD Solutions works with the Finnish Defence Forces and the wider Finnish defence ecosystem to connect emerging technology with real operational needs. Anssi explains where Finland is making progress, where the system is still fragmented, and how companies can begin to engage, whether through ecosystems, innovation networks, or practical testing opportunities.A major focus of the episode is Griffin Tech...
2026-05-0133 minDefTechPodFrom Hype to Capability: Nico Nelson on Defence-First Investing in EuropeIn this episode of DefTechPod, Erica Dill-Russell speaks with Nico Nelson, founding general partner of Archangel Ventures, about what it really takes to build, back, and scale defence technology in Europe. Drawing on two decades across defence, intelligence, national security, corporate strategy, and investing, Nico brings a sharp view of where founders, investors, and institutions still get things wrong. The conversation tackles one of the biggest questions in defence tech right now: whether companies can genuinely succeed as dual-use businesses in the early stages. Nico explains why Archangel backs defence-first and defence-only companies, why trying to serve...
2026-04-2341 minDefTechPodSovereignty, Security, and Defence Software: Luca Leone on Kahootz and Building for the Real WorldIn this episode, Erica Dill-Russell speaks with Luca Leone, CEO of Kahootz, about secure collaboration in defence, what sovereignty actually means in practice, and why these questions matter far more than many early-stage companies realise. Luca brings a rare mix of experience across engineering, defence business development, innovation support, and software leadership, and the conversation gets into the less glamorous but very real layers that sit underneath effective defence work. They discuss how Kahootz grew from a healthcare-focused collaboration platform into a long-standing defence supplier, and why secure information-sharing is not a side issue but part of...
2026-04-1632 minDefTechPodAustralia, AUKUS, and Defence Innovation: Jake Bostock on Access, Investment, and What MattersIn this episode, Erica Dill-Russell speaks with Jake Bostock, Technology Scout at Beaten Zone Venture Partners and an Australian Army reservist working in capability development, about the realities of the Australian defence market, AUKUS Pillar 2, and why Australia can be both a valuable landing point and a difficult market to break into. They discuss what makes Australia different from the U.S. and UK, why a smaller defence market creates less room for blue-sky experimentation, and how companies often need to arrive with credibility already built elsewhere. Jake explains the Australian innovation architecture, the role of organisations...
2026-04-0931 minDefTechPodFrom Norway to Washington: Chloe Friberg on NADIC, Defence Industry Support, and U.S. AccessIn this episode of DefTechPod, Erica Dill-Russell speaks with Chloe Friberg, President of the Norwegian American Defense and Homeland Security Industry Council, about what serious market entry support actually looks like when a country is trying to help its defence companies succeed in the United States. They discuss how NADIC became a practical bridge between Norwegian industry and the U.S. defence ecosystem, why the wider Team Norway model works, and what other countries can learn from it. The conversation gets beyond the usual language of international collaboration and into the mechanics that matter: trusted networks, embassy...
2026-04-0236 minDefTechPodBreaking into U.S. Defence: Colonel Naff on FCT, Access, and What Actually WorksFor many international defence companies, entering the U.S. Department of War can feel slow, opaque, and highly competitive.This episode challenges that assumption.Erica Dill-Russell is joined by Colonel Jeffrey Naff, Director of the Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) Program, to unpack one of the most underused and misunderstood pathways into U.S. defence acquisition.FCT exists for a specific purpose: to identify, validate, and transition non-U.S. technologies into U.S. military use. It is not a traditional competition route, and it does not behave like most acquisition programmes.Instead...
2026-03-2634 minDefTechPodBuilding What Matters: Leadership, Resilience and Dual-Use InnovationIn this episode of DefTechPod, we speak with Andre Turville, a seasoned CEO and entrepreneur whose career spans cybersecurity, energy, clean technology and defence across Europe and Asia.Andre shares a grounded view of what it actually takes to build and scale companies in complex, high-stakes sectors. From early exposure to engineering and entrepreneurship through to leading ventures at the intersection of innovation and resilience, this conversation explores the realities behind leadership, capital, and execution.We discuss the challenges of navigating regulated environments, the role of dual-use technologies, and why building something meaningful in defence...
2026-03-1935 minDefTechPodInside UK Defence Innovation: Dan Sawyers on jHub, Urgency and Adapting at PaceIn this episode of DefTechPod, Erica Dill-Russell speaks with Dan Sawyers, Head of jHub in the UK.Dan discusses why innovation has become such an urgent priority for defence and how the pace of technological change is forcing institutions to rethink how they identify, adapt and adopt new capabilities.The conversation explores the role of jHub within the UK defence innovation landscape, the pressures created by emerging technologies such as AI, and why the ability to adapt quickly has always been a source of strategic advantage.Dan also reflects on how defence organisations...
2026-03-1233 minDefTechPodBattlefield Reality: What Ukraine Is Teaching Defence InnovatorsJustin Hedges | Executive Chairman & Co-Founder, Prevail PartnersJustin Hedges, former Royal Marines officer and Executive Chairman of Prevail Partners, joins DefTechPod to discuss what modern conflict is teaching the defence technology community.Drawing on Prevail’s operational work in Ukraine, Justin explains why laboratory success rarely translates directly to battlefield relevance. He describes how the rapidly evolving electromagnetic environment on the front lines forces companies to iterate technology in weeks rather than years, and why systems that cannot adapt quickly become obsolete.The conversation explores what defence innovators often misunderstand about deploying new sy...
2026-03-0529 minDefTechPodFrom Interest to Contract: Toby McCrindle on IP Protection, Primes and Knowing Your ValueIn this episode of DefTechPod, Erica Dill-Russell speaks with Toby McCrindle, Partner and Head of Defence & Deep Tech at Mishcon de Reya, about what really happens between early enthusiasm and an actual defence contract.Toby has worked across major aerospace and defence programmes, inside primes, within venture-backed start-ups, and now advises dual-use and defence tech companies navigating procurement, partnerships and funding. He brings a rare perspective from both sides of the table.The conversation explores:• Why interest from a senior officer or prime does not equal a contract• How start-ups should position them...
2026-02-2632 minDefTechPodFrom Battlefield to Accelerator: Marcus Roberts on NATO DIANA, IoT Tribe and Creating a Seat at the TableIn this episode of DefTechPod, we speak with Marcus Roberts - former British Army officer and now a key figure within Janus Allies and IoT Tribe - about what it really takes for dual-use technology to enter defence markets.Marcus shares how his operational experience in Afghanistan shaped the way he judges new technology, why innovation cycles are accelerating dramatically, and what founders often misunderstand about defence timing and realism.We explore:How NATO DIANA and UKDI accelerators actually work in practiceWhat Janus Allies delivers on behalf of the UK MoD
2026-02-1932 minDefTechPodInside US Acquisition: PEOs, Pathways, and What Companies MisunderstandIn this episode of the DefTechLink podcast, Tasha Josefsson is joined by David Rolen for a grounded discussion on how defence procurement actually works in practice.They unpack the role of Program Executive Offices (PEOs), how requirements move from interest to structure, and why procurement timelines, incentives, and decision authority are so often misunderstood by SMEs and non-traditional suppliers. The conversation covers where engagement helps, where it quietly stalls, and how companies misread signals from programmes and buyers.This episode is for anyone trying to make sense of defence acquisition beyond slide decks and acronyms.
2026-02-1621 minDefTechPodBuilding Dual-Use Technology That Actually Transitions: The Eelume JourneyIn this episode, Tasha Josefsson speaks with Thomas Nygaard about the story behind Eelume, Norway’s approach to dual-use technology, and what meaningful collaboration actually looks like in practice.The conversation explores how Eelume bridges commercial and defence requirements, why subsea and maritime autonomy demand long-term trust rather than quick wins, and how Norwegian industry, academia, and government interact differently from larger defence markets. Thomas also reflects on partnerships, working across borders, and the realities of scaling advanced robotics into sensitive operational environments.Rather than focusing on hype or market optimism, this episode looks at th...
2026-02-1623 minDefTechPodDesigning a Defence Ecosystem: The Story Behind DefTechLinkIn this episode of the DefTechLink podcast, Tasha Josefsson sits down with Erica Dill‑Russell to talk through how DefTechLink came into being and, more importantly, why.Erica shares the gap she kept seeing from both sides of the table. Capable companies with strong technology repeatedly misreading defence pathways, burning time and money, and mistaking interest for progress. Rather than building another listings platform, the conversation explores why DefTechLink was designed as a navigation layer. One focused on context, eligibility, sequencing, and helping organisations understand what defence signals actually mean.This episode is a candid lo...
2026-02-1616 min