Defence Builder, founded by Sigma Software, Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), and Buntar Aerospace, is expanding from an accelerator into a full defence tech ecosystem. In addition to its accelerator program, it now includes the venture investment fund and new capabilities in market intelligence, venture deals advisory, due diligence, and corporate governance. The ecosystem brings together three integrated pillars and serves as a single platform for startups, investors, and partners across the defence tech market. Daria Yaniieva, Investment Director at Sigma Software Labs, has become President of the Defence Builder ecosystem.
The Defence Builder accelerator, launched in 2024, has already completed two cohorts, with the third currently underway. More than 25 companies have participated in the program, with an average product readiness level of TRL 7.
The portfolio structure reflects both battlefield demand and investor interest:
- ~45% of teams operate in unmanned systems
- ~30% in AI, electronic warfare (EW), and counter-UAS
- ~25% in maritime solutions and demining
The combined valuation of companies from the first two cohorts exceeds $40M, with several teams raising funding within their first year after completing the program.
Access to capital is a core component of the ecosystem. Defence Builder has launched a $5M venture fund investing in early-stage defense and dual-use companies, from pre-seed to Series A. The fund is already actively deploying capital, with an initial $1.5M contributed by the founding partners.
Ticket size is up to $300K per company. The current portfolio includes four companies:
- engineering (communications and navigation)
- Falcons (electronic warfare and control systems)
- MaXon Systems (interception systems)
- Huless (UAV-based communication solutions)
Several additional deals are expected to close by the end of the quarter. A second, larger Fund is also under consideration for launch within a year.
Beyond the accelerator and fund, Defence Builder is developing additional capabilities in response to market and investor demand. These include:
- venture deal advisory (market entry, partnerships, M&A, joint ventures)
- due diligence tailored to defense tech specifics
- corporate governance aligned with international institutional investor standards
A dedicated sector intelligence track is being developed in partnership with KSE Institute. The research covers market structure and dynamics, key technology segments, and the investment landscape, including investor behavior and financing models.
By combining the accelerator, investment fund, and additional capabilities, Defence Builder provides end-to-end support across the full company lifecycle — from product validation to investment readiness, transaction execution, and market expansion.
In practice, this means companies can move through the entire pipeline within a single system: from initial selection and validation to due diligence, deal structuring, and scaling strategy. For investors, this translates into access not just to companies, but to curated, investment-ready opportunities supported by analysis, validation, and a clear growth logic.
The launch of the Defence Builder ecosystem comes amid rapid growth in the sector. According to joint research by Defence Builder, KSE Institute, and Brave1, the conservative market size of just three key segments — UAVs, ground robotics, and electronic warfare — already reaches $4.8B. Investment volume has increased from $10M in 2023 to $129M in 2025. The full report will be released publicly in the near future.
“The expansion into an ecosystem reflects the market’s evolution. As the defense tech sector grows, so does the number of stakeholders with different needs — from companies and investors to partners and institutions. Our integrated set of tools allows us to address these needs holistically and adapt to specific cases. Our long-term goal is to build infrastructure that enables the market to scale faster and operate more predictably for all participants,” said Daria Yaniieva, President of the Defence Builder Ecosystem.
