Kinstellar And Strategy Council Present The Second UK – Ukraine Defence Tech Forum In London

With the support of the Embassy of Ukraine in the UK, Kinstellar was proud to partner with Stephen Butler and his team at Strategy Council to host the UK-Ukraine Defence Tech Forum, themed “Financing Ukraine’s Victory: Access to Capital and Scaling Defence Technologies” at the prestigious Royal United Services Institute in London on 8 November.

Purpose

Following on from the success of the previous drone-themed defence forum held in May, the UK-Ukraine Defence Tech Forum reconvened to promote investment by venture capital firms in Ukrainian miltech innovators. Ukrainian tech firms, UK and international VCs, and the governments of the UK and Ukraine exchanged views and experiences on the evolving role of technology in modern warfare, challenges to investment, and the critical role of venture capital in helping scale up defence innovation and rapid product deployment to defeat the enemy and save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines. The highlight of the event was watching Ukrainian miltech firms professionally pitching VCs on their technologies, resulting in fruitful discussions regarding possible investments during the networking sessions. 

Attendees

We were honoured to have Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Wigston (ret.), Board member of MyDefence, as a speaker on the opening panel moderated by JP Rathbone, Security & Defence Editor at the Financial Financial Times.

Leading venture capital firms and Defence Tech investors – including the UK National Security Strategic Investment Fund, NATO Innovation Fund, IQT International, Twin Track Ventures, Presto Tech Horizons, Offset Ventures, IQ Capital, Sig ma Software Labs, SevenCamp, Green Flag Ventures, and D3 VC Fund – participated in panels focused on how venture capital drives technological advancements, the potential for defence companies to meet ESG criteria, and the role of defence tech clusters in educating investors and channeling sustainable investment into emerging technologies.

The forum featured pioneering Ukrainian Defence Tech companies such as Destinus, Skyeton, Roboneers, Swarmer, HIMERA, DroneSpace, Sokoly.ai, Farsight Vision, Bavovna.ai, Skyrora Ventures, and Osavul, as well as the UK and international Defence Tech firms Evolve Dynamics, Fujitsu, MyDefence, and FAC Technology. Discussions explored investment into advanced tech solutions such as AI-driven guidance systems, real-time sensor data integration, smart munitions, autonomous targeting systems, network-centric warfare tools, counter-drone technologies, and secure tactical communications.

Kinstellar is Ukraine’s and the region’s leading defence sector law firm. We are an integral part of the Ukrainian military technology ecosystem, helping our global and SME clients to navigate the shoals of Ukraine’s regulatory and government decision-making process. Our recent mandates include advising Rheinmetall, KNDS, and BAE Systems in their market entries. We also advise multiple drone manufacturers and other defence companies, addressing their legal needs and contributing to the strengthening of Ukraine’s defence capabilities.