The Darkstar startup founders' coalition announced that Future Army Bootcamp 4 will be held this summer in Kyiv. The project is looking for developers who create interceptor drones, medium-range strike vehicles, and drones to replace the Chinese DJI.
The Darkstar startup founders' coalition announced that Future Army Bootcamp 4 will be held this summer in Kyiv. The project is looking for developers who create interceptor drones, medium-range strike vehicles, and drones to replace the Chinese DJI.
«Let me be brutally honest: Ukraine can only win when the global tech community delivers cutting-edge solutions at lightning speed. And the only real test that matters? Fighting. Too many startups and top-notch defense solutions have completely collapsed under fire. The best defense technologies are still being created — right now — in Ukraine,» the Darkstar announcement says .
It is noted that startups with products at least at TRL 5 or 6, or those that have already been tested in combat conditions, are eligible to participate in Future Army Bootcamp 4. The best teams will receive paid contracts for the duration of the bootcamp and up to $1 million in investment.
«If you are building anything related to drones, components, missiles, visual navigation, reconnaissance systems — we want to talk to you ASAP… If you are very serious — or know someone who is serious — we are here for the next decade to build the Army of the Future! And protect the world from the orcs,» Darkstar notes.
DarkStar co-founder Ragnar Sass noted that the core idea behind the project’s bootcamps is an intense, fast-paced environment where defense innovators, military experts, and startup founders create real solutions to real battlefield problems.
Registration for Future Army Bootcamp is open on the DarkStar website. Applications can be submitted until June 10.
In late May, President Volodymyr Zelensky instructed to “ significantly increase our production of interceptor drones ” — for this, Ukraine will attract more funding from partners. Earlier, Zelensky said that Russia can still buy Chinese DJI Mavic drones, which are often used by the military, but this option is closed for Ukraine and Europe.
Recall that last fall, the Ukrainian-Estonian battlefield intelligence startup Farsight Vision attracted 600,000 euros in investment from the Darkstar project.
This is a coalition of 30+ startup founders (including several unicorns), hackers, and investors from Estonia, Germany, the UK, France, Finland, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Ukraine, united by one goal: building a European defense technology ecosystem.
DarkStar has already attracted Brave1, Heroes & Allies, representatives of military intelligence, and the Unmanned Systems Forces to the partnership.
