It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

Danske Bank: “The Future of Defense Money.”

28 May 2026

Summary:

This episode features a deep discussion with Teppo Havo and Catharina Candolin on the evolving landscape of Defense industry investments, the role of sustainability, and the impact of geopolitical events like the Ukraine conflict.

Teppo and Catharina share their insights on market signals, investment strategies, and the future of Defense tech in Europe.

TAKEAWAYS:

  • Sustainable Investing in the Defense Industry
  • Shifts in Investment Policies Post-Ukraine War
  • Danske Bank’s Role in Financing Defense Startups
  • Market Dynamics and Investment Trends in Defense
  • Challenges in the European Defense Investment Landscape
  • The Growth of Defense Companies and Market Valuations
  • The Evolving Landscape of Defense Venture Capital
  • Market Signals and Investment Trends in Europe
  • Identifying Promising Companies in the Defense Sector
  • The Role of Historical Data in Investment Decisions
  • Challenges in Scaling Defense Production
  • Spotlight on Innovative Companies and Initiatives

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

XRTC: Flying a Drone in Finland from Texas

26 May 2026

Summary:

Join Colin and Martti on this Protect Europe Podcast, where they explore XRTC‘s innovative connectivity technology with CEO Sauli Kiviranta 

See how XRTC extends real-time communication capabilities, solving long-standing latency and connectivity challenges in space, maritime, mining, and enterprise sectors.

Also, do not fly drones from highways in Texas!

TAKEAWAYS:

  • Introduction to XRTC and its origins
  • The Technical Challenges of Real-Time Communication
  • Understanding Latency and Packet Loss
  • XRTC’s Unique Approach to Data Transmission
  • Real-World Applications of XRTC
  • The Future of Remote Operations with XRTC
  • Remote Operations and Connectivity Challenges
  • The Future of Autonomous Vehicles
  • Security and Efficiency in Remote Control Systems

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

Cloudberry VC: “Most VCs won’t understand you”

3 May 2026

Summary:

Rene Kromhof, General Partner at Cloudberry VC is the sort of investor we love. Deeply immersed in the industry in which he is investing and channels his Netherlands directness into every great conversation.

Cloudberry VC is Europe’s first dedicated semiconductor fund. Backing the founders building the future of computing from Europe.

TAKEAWAYS:

  • Introduction to CloudBerry VC and René’s Background
  • Investment Thesis of CloudBerry VC
  • Key Investment Criteria: IP and Design For Manufacturing
  • Navigating the Challenges of Hardware Development
  • The Finnish Semiconductor Ecosystem
  • Identifying Opportunities in Semiconductor Startups
  • Leveraging Strategic Partnerships of LPs for Success
  • The Five S’s of Venture Capital
     

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

17Tech: From War to Breakthroughs

8 April 2026

Summary:

It was my pleasure to have Sami Luukkonen Co-Founder of 17Tech on the Protect Europe Podcast. I love the three-part arc of Sami’s career. How he is grounded on using his unique skillset and delivering real value for Europe. “Never let a good crisis go to waste”!

TAKEAWAYS:

  • Europe’s high-tech industry and its challenges
  • Defence tech startups and accelerators in Europe
  • The impact of geopolitical conflicts on innovation and how we can couple this with scaling European high-tech companies

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

ICEYE: Delivering Real Time Value at Global Scale!

18 March 2026

Summary:

In this Protect Europe Podcast (PEP), Colin Brown interviews Seppo Aaltonen, VP, NATO & Nordics, Mission Systems for ICEYE,

They discuss data as “Real Time Value” for defence and managing humanitarian crises as they happen.

TAKEAWAYS:

  • Real Time Value at Global Scale
  • 64 satellites is only the beginning!
  • Real-time data from satellites is crucial for disaster response.
  • NATO is increasingly focusing on space as a domain for defense.
  • European companies are gaining opportunities in defense contracts due to geopolitical shifts.
  • Cultural fit and teamwork are essential for ICEYE’s growth.
  • Seppo’s military background enhances his understanding of customer needs.
  • Ukraine’s defence innovation ecosystem is rapidly evolving because of the conflict.

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

Cactos: The Spikey Battery

9 March 2026

Summary:

In this Protect Europe Podcast, Colin Brown interviews Oskari Jaakkola, the co-founder of Cactos, a modern energy company focused on providing affordable electricity and energy storage solutions to industrial users. Oskari discusses the company’s vertically integrated approach, the challenges of the electricity market, and the importance of their infrastructure fund in providing financing to clients. He shares insights into the company’s growth, pivotal decisions made in its early days, and the team’s background. The conversation also touches on the future of energy consumption and the role of technology in managing electricity costs.

TAKEAWAYS:

  • Cactos offers affordable electricity and hedges against market risks.
  • The company is vertically integrated, providing a one-stop shop for clients.
  • Electricity consumption is growing rapidly, outpacing other energy sources.
  • Cactos has developed its own battery management system for efficiency.
  • The infrastructure fund is crucial for providing financing to clients.
  • The company has experienced significant growth in revenue and market presence.
  • Cactos focuses on commercial and industrial clients for energy storage solutions.
  • Pivotal decisions have shaped the company’s strategic direction.
  • Interview mentioned in the Podcast between Oskari (Cactos) and Forest (Somos) from Union Square Ventures

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

Biology Meets Manufacturing

12 February 2026

Summary:

This is a special Protect Europe Podcast (PEP) episode where we dive into what it takes to raise capital for a capital-intensive business. 

Colin Brown is joined by Maija Itkonen & Chris Landowski (Co-Founders Onego Bio) and Jaakko Soini  (Onvest) to talk about the challenges and massive opportunities of scaling a business that defines “Biology meets Manufacturing”.

The conversation was recorded live in the Onego Bio office with no visuals.

TAKEAWAYS:

  • The industrial egg market is worth roughly 100B.
  • Onego Bio is a “hedge” on that market and is welcomed in by the industry to offset the voltality in price and supply.
  • The platform can produce a lot more than an amino acid replica of the world’s favourite protein.
  • The company spun out of the legendary VTT with 10M in the bank before incorporation.
  • Finding investors who are more excited about the company than the founders has been the key to raising.
  • Regulation is important for safety, but the way you regulate can stimulate or hamper innovation, and we discuss EU vs USA approaches.
  • The future is at the intersection of Biology and Manufacturing 

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

Protect The Grid

3 February 2026

Summary:

In this week’s Protect Europe Podcast (PEP), Colin Brown interviews Paula Laine CEO of Safegrid.
They discuss the company’s mission to enhance the operation and maintenance of energy infrastructure through advanced fault detection and predictive maintenance technologies. 

TAKEAWAYS:

  • Safegrid helps electric grid operators maintain assets based on actionable insights from real-time data.

  • The company started with fault locating and evolved to fault prediction.

  • Predictive maintenance allows for proactive actions to prevent outages.

  • Safegrid aims for steady year on year growth of 50-100% by serving a diverse range of customers, from small to large utilities.

  • Integration with legacy systems is primarily through REST APIs.

  • Cybersecurity is a critical concern for energy infrastructure.

  • The demand for energy is increasing, stressing existing infrastructure.

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

Product Market Fit (PMF) for the warfighter

16 January 2026

Summary

In this podcast episode, Colin Brown interviews Rasmus Basilier, a prominent figure in the defense technology space. Rasmus shares his journey from a childhood dream of becoming a soldier to his current role in defense accelerators and technology validation. The conversation explores the evolving defense ecosystem in Europe, the impact of the Ukraine war on military strategies, and the challenges of procurement in the defense sector. Rasmus emphasizes the importance of validation and testing for defense technologies, the role of logistics and economics in warfare, and the current investment landscape in defense startups. He also highlights innovative companies making strides in the defense space and concludes with thoughts on the future of defense technology and national security.

TAKEAWAYS:

  • Rasmus has a lifelong passion for defense and military.

  • NATO Diana provides crucial support for defense startups.

  • The Ukraine war has shifted military strategies in Europe.

  • Validation in real military environments is essential for tech.

  • Logistics and economics play a critical role in warfare.

  • There is a significant influx of investment in defense tech.

  • Patriotic capital is rising in response to security needs.

  • Innovative companies are emerging in the defense sector.

  • Procurement processes are evolving in Finland and Europe.

  • Collaboration between startups and military is vital for success.

     

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

Ukraine’s Defense Startups Are Reshaping European Security

16 January 2026

In this conversation, the founders of Double Tap Investments discuss their vision for the future of Ukraine post-war, their current operations in investing in defense technology, and the unique challenges they face in a war-torn environment. They emphasize the importance of speed, learning, and innovation in their investment strategy, while also addressing trust issues and the impact of their work on European defence.
The discussion highlights the bravery of individuals in Ukraine and the need for a united European front against threats.

 

TAKEAWAYS:

  • Building relationships in Ukraine is crucial for future opportunities.
  • The investment strategy focuses on supporting defence startups in Ukraine.
  • Learning from the Ukrainian experience is a key goal.
  • Speed and adaptability are essential in the current war environment.
  • Trust issues exist, but personal connections help mitigate them.
  • Innovation in defence comes from solving real problems on the ground.
  • The European economy must unite to effectively counter threats.
  • Investing in teams is vital for success in defense tech.
  • The bravery of individuals in Ukraine inspires continued support.