It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

EDT: The Capital Europe Needs to Keep Its Technology

29 September 2026

Summary:

Europe has the technology.

The bigger question is whether Europe has the capital to keep it. In this episode of the Protect Europe Podcast, Colin Brown sits down with Martin Davis, co-founder of EDT Ventures, to explore the intersection of venture capital, emerging technology, national security and European strategic autonomy.

Martin’s journey has taken him from 11 years in the military, through software and financial services, into venture capital and ultimately into defence and national security investing. Today, EDT Ventures is building around a very specific gap in the European market: later-stage capital for technology businesses with both commercial and national security applications.

  • Why Europe has a Series A/B and later-stage capital gap
  • Why strategically important European companies can end up being acquired or funded from outside Europe
  • The role of €20–30m anchor investments in keeping companies headquartered and controlled in Europe
  • Why EDT focuses on dual-use rather than single-use defence technology – Emerging disruptive technologies across space, cyber, quantum, communications and more
  • Why defence can act as an urgent first customer for technologies with much larger commercial markets
  • The importance of “Act One, Act Two, Act Three” for technology companies
  • How Ukraine has demonstrated the importance of building capability, not simply products
  • Why national security and technological sovereignty are becoming increasingly intertwined
  • Martin’s broader investment work across Europe and frontier markets in Africa
  • This is a conversation about more than defence investing. It is about capital, technology, sovereignty and Europe’s ability to build and retain the capabilities it will need for the next decade.

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

Seraphim Space: “The infrastructure above your head”

18 August 2026

Summary:

Mark Boggett is n of 1!
He has built arguably the best specialised space investment firm in the world from the ground up.

Ruy Pinto is an exception one of the most experienced Space people in Europe / the world and proud to call him a friend and venture partner. 

This is a great conversation between two frontier leaders. Join us to unpack Seraphim Space

This episode shows clearly why Europe needs to bet on specialised funds pursuing vertically integrated businesses in huge markets. Pure class! 

TAKEAWAYS:

  • The Evolution of Space Costs
  • The Changing Perception of Space Investment
  • The Role of a specialised firm like Seraphim in Space Investment
  • Identifying Winning Startups in Space
  • Corporate Mindset and Technology Decisions
  • Investment Strategies and Conviction Building
  • The Role of Lead Investors in Growth Stages
  • Creating the Seraphim Space Investment Trust
  • Vertical Integration in Space Companies
  • The Future of SpaceX and its IPO

 

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

Astrolight: Space lasers and a Greenland base station

28 July 2026

Summary:

Laurynas Maciulis and the team at Astrolight demonstrate technological leadership in satellite to earth communication using lasers.

Laurie explains Lithuania’s  strategic role in lasers and how the increase in satellites and the importance of secure ship to ship communications opens up a massive Total Addressable Market.

A great technical deep dive from a fantastic company backed by EIFO, Balnord and Coinvest Capital Lithuania. 

TAKEAWAYS:

  • Lithuania’s history in laser technology
  • Laser communication for space and ship-to-ship
  • Securing satellite data with laser tech
  • Greenland ground station for satellite connectivity
  • Challenges of RF spectrum and laser solutions
  • AstroLite’s founding story and funding journey
  • Strategic importance of space lasers for Europe
  • Future growth and investment in space tech

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

ATMOS Space Cargo: Shielding satellites in deorbit with inflatables

14 July 2026

Summary:

In this engaging interview, Sebastian Klaus discusses Europe’s current position in space access, the importance of reusable spacecraft, and innovative re-entry technologies like inflatable heat shields.

Sebastian shares insights into ATMOS Space Cargo‘s mission, technological advancements, and Europe’s strategic role in space manufacturing and defence.

TAKEAWAYS:

  • Why Europe Needs Access to Space
  • The Impact of Reusable Rockets and SpaceX
  • Europe’s Current Position in Space Launches
  • The Rise of Commercial Space Companies in Europe
  • In-Space Manufacturing: Opportunities and Challenges
  • Atmospheric Reentry and Inflatable Heat Shields
  • How Inflatable Heat Shields Work and Their Advantages
  • Development and Testing of Reentry Technologies
  • Ballistic Coefficient and Reentry Temperatures
  • Attitude Control and Autonomous Navigation
  • Phoenix Missions: Lessons Learned
  • Market Segments
  • The Future of European Space Industry and Collaboration

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

Bodyguards for Satellites

9 February 2026

Summary:

In this week’s Protect Europe Podcast (PEP), Colin Brown and Neil Buchanan, Co-Founder of Lodestar Space go deep (pun intended) on what it takes to build a hard tech company from scratch.


Lodestar Space is focused on building “bodyguards for satellites” or to put it another way “fully autonomous AI fighter pilots for space”.

TAKEAWAYS:

  • For the last five to 10 years, the public has been unaware of the threats to satellite infrastructure
  • We should have solved the vulnerabilities in space years ago.
  • If conflict arises, the West will lose quickly in space.
  • There is a growing dependency on satellite systems for everyday functions.
  • The current state of space security is a significant vulnerability.
  • Future conflicts may extend beyond Earth into space.
  • Building an orbital bodyguard is essential for protection.
  • The failure to address these issues impacts those in uniform.
  • The reliance on GPS and timing systems is increasing.
  • Proactive measures are necessary to defend our satellite infrastructure.
  •  

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

The Future of Camera Tech Is Inspired by the Human Retina

16 January 2026

Summary

This conversation explores the incredible capabilities of the retina in capturing images and reacting to stimuli, comparing its speed and resolution to conventional camera technology. It highlights advancements in machine vision technology that aim to replicate these remarkable features.

Join Colin Brown, Ruy Pinto and Diffraqtion’s CEO Johannes Galatsanos to dive deep on the capability his company will unlock.
Recorded shortly after Diffraqtion won a one million investment from Slush 2025.

TAKEAWAYS:

  • The retina reacts to shapes and movement quickly.

  • It triggers responses faster than conventional technology.

  • Retina-inspired technology achieves 20 times the resolution of cameras.

  • It operates at 1,000 times the speed of traditional cameras.

  • Machine vision is evolving to match biological systems.

  • The sharpness of machine vision is unprecedented.

  • Understanding the retina can inspire technological advancements.

  • Speed and resolution are critical in imaging technology.

  • Innovations in vision technology can enhance various fields, but particularly Space.

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

It’s not a storm — it’s the climate

Why Satellites Could Decide the Future of Defense

1 October 2025

In this episode of the Protect Europe Podcast (PEP), Colin and Vesa talk with Pekka Laurila, co-founder of ICEYE, about the company’s ambitious vision for 2035, its current operational focus, and the exciting use cases of its imaging radar technology in the defense sector.

Pekka discusses the scaling of satellite launches, the economics of production, and the dynamics of their growing global team. 

TAKEAWAYS:

  • In 2035, ICEYE aims to be a key player in digital infrastructure.
  • The company has been doubling its revenue every year for the past decade and is currently at the 100M range.
  • Imaging radar technology is revolutionizing defense operations.
  • The number of satellites directly impacts coverage and response times.
  • Economies of scale in satellite production are complex and challenging.
  • The team is approaching 1,000 members, with a significant presence in Finland.
  • Bottlenecks in growth include physical constraints and supply chain issues.