News
Seven Camp Spring 2026 Defense & Dual-Use Accelerator Opens in Brussels
Brussels, Belgium
European defense tech capabilities are scaling up. In Brussels, a clear shift is underway—moving from awareness to concrete action—around collective defense and technological sovereignty. In this context, as a leading defense and dual-use fund, Seven Capital has opened applications for the second Spring 2026 cohort of Seven Camp, its accelerator based in the Belgian capital.
Program Overview and Strategic Opportunity for Defense & Dual-Use Startups
The accelerator is designed for founders who move fast, build the best products, and are ready to scale into European markets. Seven Camp is structured as an operational program, focused on execution, market access, real-world deployment, and funding. Our objective is clear: turn promising technologies into deployable solutions trusted and adopted by institutional and industrial stakeholders across NATO nations.
The Spring 2026 cohort welcomes defense and dual-use startups from various geographical areas: Ukraine, European countries, and the United States. We are merit-based: the best products win, regardless of origin.
We don't invest in geographies. We invest in exceptional teams building exceptional products. If you are the best, we want you—simple as that.
The timing is uniquely favorable for startups building critical technologies to anchor their growth in Europe. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, geopolitical shifts have accelerated, driving a sharp increase in European defense budgets and a renewed focus on technological sovereignty.
Strategic Focus Areas in Defense, Security, and Resilience
We focus on startups developing technologies that directly address European defense, security, and resilience priorities, including:
- Sensing & Perception
- Resilient Connectivity
- AI-Driven Decision Support
- Autonomy & Robotics
- Security-by-Design
How Seven Camp Creates Value for Founders
Seven Camp operates with a rigorous, merit-based selection process. Once admitted, founders benefit from a structured program that provides a unique path to procurement through deep ties with European Ministries of Defense, combined with funding, expert mentorship, access to our network, peer learning, events, and support with Belgian company setup.
Program Benefits
The benefits of the program include:
- A 6-month structured program with weekly execution sprints
- Direct exposure to Belgian, EU, UK, and NATO ecosystems
- Hands-on incubation and go-to-market support
- A path to procurement through deep Ministry of Defense relationships
- Support with Belgian company setup and R&D incentives
- An innovative equity allocation model creating alignment between LPs, GPs, and founders
A Differentiated Fund Model Aligned with Founders
Seven Capital's fund model is not a classic "2 and 20." Instead, we rely on an innovative and transparent equity allocation schedule that aligns LPs, GPs, and founders' interests. In this model, everyone has skin in one another's success, reinforcing collaboration within the cohort instead of misplaced competition.
Championing others becomes the norm, creating a uniquely positive cohort dynamic.
Equity Allocation Schedule
Total Equity Granted by the Startup to the Accelerator: 7%.
Participation: The Seven Camp Pool (1.75%) is a cross-holdings component (within the 7%), meaning participants receive 1.75% equity in each of the nine companies in their cohort, increasing the likelihood of financial upside.
Brussels: A Strategic Launchpad for Pan-European Market Access
For teams worldwide, Brussels offers an ideal beachhead for European expansion, at the heart of EU institutions and a rapidly growing defense innovation ecosystem. With access to over 500 million European consumers and within two hours of Paris, London, and Amsterdam, the city is an English-first international center where EU policy meets innovation in AI, cybersecurity, and defense and dual-use technologies. It also offers attractive grants and R&D incentives, making it well suited for American or Ukrainian teams establishing a European presence.
Building the Next Generation of Defense Technology?
If you have an exceptional product, we want to hear from you.
Think this might be a fit?
Find more details on our dedicated website page, take our 2-minute fit check, and apply.