Incubation Program

SEVEN CAMP
AI IN DEFENCE

A 6-month incubation program for early-stage startups building AI for the European defence ecosystem. From idea or first traction to a stage at the AI in Defence Summit in Brussels.

See program details

Applications are open for the September 2026 cohort. Tell us about your team in 2 minutes; we'll follow up with the next steps.

Brussels · 6 months · Culminates at the AI in Defence Summit, 1 March 2027

Program at a glance

Seven Camp identifies and develops high-potential AI-in-defence startups, then puts them in front of the European defence ecosystem.

Duration

6 months

Sept 2026 → Feb 2027

Stage

Early-stage

Idea, prototype, or first traction

Focus

AI in Defence

Applied AI for European defence

Cash support

€10,000

Per selected company

Equity

Half (3.5%) redistributed across the cohort

Culmination

1 March 2027

Demo Day at the AI in Defence Summit

What you get

Six focused months of capital, technical support, and direct access to the people building the European defence stack.

Capital

€10,000 in cash support to extend your runway through the program — enough to focus on building rather than fundraising during the cohort.

Product & technical support

Hands-on guidance for building AI products that hold up in defence contexts: from problem framing and architecture to evaluation, evidence, and integration.

Defence-market access

Practical navigation of the European defence sector — regulatory context, institutional relationships, and direct introductions to operational stakeholders.

Investor & partner exposure

Visibility within Seven Capital's network and the wider European defence ecosystem — and a stage at the AI in Defence Summit to convert it into traction.

The cohort model

Of the 7% equity each company commits, half (3.5%) goes into a pool that is redistributed across the cohort. Every company in Seven Camp ends up holding a small stake in every other company in the same cohort.

Aligned

Every founder benefits when other cohort companies win.

Selective

We pick teams whose products complement each other — not just teams we like in isolation.

Compounding

Introductions, customers, and follow-on capital flow across the cohort, not just from the program team.

Who it's for

Strong fit

✓Early-stage teams (idea, prototype, or first traction) building AI products with clear defence applications
✓Founders with technical depth — someone on the team who has built and shipped AI systems before
✓Based in Europe, or willing to operate from Brussels during the program
✓Comfortable working in defence-adjacent contexts — regulation, dual-use considerations, institutional buyers

Not a fit (yet)

✕Solo founder with no co-founder or technical lead in place
✕AI is a marketing label rather than a core part of the product
✕Later-stage companies with significant institutional funding — Seven Camp is sized for earlier stages
✕Not able to engage actively across the 6-month cohort

Timeline

Spring–Summer 2026

Sourcing & selection

Application window open. We meet teams, run technical conversations, and finalize the cohort.

September 2026

Cohort kickoff

Selected teams come together in Brussels and the program formally begins.

Sept 2026 → Feb 2027

Six-month incubation

Hands-on product work, defence-market navigation, ecosystem introductions, and preparation for the showcase.

1 March 2027

Demo Day at the AI in Defence Summit

Cohort startups present in front of ~1,200 attendees from across the European defence ecosystem.

Culmination

AI in Defence Summit

1 March 2027 · Brussels

Seven Camp culminates at the AI in Defence Summit — one of Europe's leading gatherings dedicated to AI in the defence sector. The previous edition (February 2026) drew approximately 1,200 attendees from European industry, institutions, and investors.

Cohort startups take the stage at the Summit's Demo Day, with additional visibility through the AI in Defence Startup Awards and a dedicated startup presence on site.

Visit aidefencesummit.eu

Working with the European defence ecosystem

Seven Camp combines an international startup pipeline through Seven Capital with direct collaboration with European defence stakeholders, institutions, and the wider AI defence community.

Program partner