Events

Big Angels Days Defence

Matchmaking
Paris, France

Join ESIL in Paris for the Big Angels Days Defence,
on 29 and 30 October 2025.

Big Angels Days Defence will take place during European Defence Week in Paris.
After confirming your registration, you will be able to select the sessions you wish to attend.

👉 Register here for European Defence Week in Paris

Programme

29 October: Announcement of Defence Angels European Network
16:00 – 17:00 Announcement – Defence Angels European Network
Presentation by Défense Angels with its partners:
  • Pascal Lagarde, Executive Director of Bpifrance
  • Guy Gourevitch, President of the DĂ©fense Angels group (accompanied by Michel Behar, Elodie Bonnefond, Emmanuel Ankri)
  • Signing of the partnership between Defence Angels European Network and DG DEFIS Joint intervention by BAE - Reginald Vossen, EBAN – Candace Johnson, and France Angels – Alain Pujol
  • EIC, EIF, EIB, representatives
  • Interventions by various supporting European states
  • Conclusion by Guy Gourevitch and DG DEFIS (to introduce their evening event)
30 October: Big Angels Day Defence
Le Hub Lounge (Capacity 40)
8:30 - 10:00 8h30 - 10h High level discussions between Business Angels - Networking Breakfast (Invitation Only)
10:00 - 11:00 Networking Breakfast
11:00 - 11:30 Opening Remarks & Strategic Context Speakers:
  • Pascal Lagarde, Executive Director of Bpifrance
  • Jean-Louis ThiĂ©riot, Member of Parliament, former Delegate Minister for the Armed Forces
InvestEU startups meeting investors (10 resilience startups are meeting business angels or investors on 1on1 meetings)
11:30 - 12:15 Roundtable #1 – European Instruments for Defence Innovation Financing
Topic: Public-private co-investment, early-stage financing, and strategic alignment
Moderation:
  • Emmanuel Ankri, Board Member of the DĂ©fense Angels Group
  • SĂ©bastien d’Herbès, Senior Equity Listing Manager at Euronext
  • Andra Migiu, Head of Division, Security and Defence Office at EIB
  • Lisa Antoine, Policy Officer at DG DEFIS
  • Federica Valente-Marinkovic, Research, Technology and Innovation Coordinator at EDA

12:15 - 12:30 Keynote - The Future of European Defence Innovation Financing
Stéphane Ouaki, Director of EIC & EISMEA
12:30 - 13:00 Success Stories: Startups in Focus
2 startups showcasing their pathways
  • Marine BERTUCCHI, CEO AITHRA
  • RĂ©mi GEIGER, CEO KWAN-TEK
13:00 - 13:55 Walking Lunch & Startup Tables
8 - 10 startups will host table for informal meetings with business angels
13:50 - 14:05 ESIL: How to work crossborder with BAs
Luigi Amati, Director Meta Group
14:00 - 17:45
Business Angels – Startups 1:1 Meetings

Format: 8–10 business angels available across 4 desks Schedule: 20-minute slots per startupObjective: Concrete matchmaking between founders and active dual-use investors
14:05 - 15:00 Roundtable #2 – Behind the Curtain: Startups & Angels Dialogue
Topic: Honest exchange between founders and angels: real feedback from both slides
Moderation:
  • Eric Marti, General Manager of the DĂ©fense Angels group
  • Chantal Corbet, Secretary General of the DĂ©fense Angels Group
  • FNX Fund: Vincent de Crayencourt
  • Expansion Venture Fund : Ted Elvhage, Founding Partner
  • Brave1: TBC
15:00 - 16:15 InvestEU Portal Pitch Session - Two Resilience domain examples: Cyber & Health
10 startups Cybersecurity infrastructure in Defence Next Gen of HealthTech in Defence
16:15 - 16:45 Coffee Break & Informal Exchange
16:45 - 17:45 Roundtable #3 – Behind the Curtain: Startups & Angels Dialogue
How BAs are involved in day-to-day work in / with startups that invested in?
  • Karine Joyeux, CEO of ELIKA TEAM (activity: operational language) and Michel Behar, Vice-President of the DĂ©fense Angels group, member of ELIKA TEAM’s strategic board
  • Vidal Texeira, CEO of SEABER (activity: underwater drones) and Michel Kermagoret, Business Angel of DĂ©fense Angels, member of SEABER’s strategic board
17:45 - 18:00 Closing remarks / Announcement Rollout - Defence Angels Europe Network
First pan-European angel network focused on dual-use & defence innovation
18:00 "See -you-soon" Glass of Wine Gilles Le Cocguen, Isabelle Bebear, and EuroQuity Team - EuroQuity Defence Alliance - What is next?

Join ESIL in Paris for the Defence Business Angels Day, on 30 October 2025.

Defence Business Angels Day will take place during European Defence Week in Paris.
After confirming your registration, you will be able to select the sessions you wish to attend.

👉 Register here for European Defence Week in Paris

Programme

09:30 – 11:00
Breakfast & Networking

  • EEN Tonic Welcome

11:00 – 11:30
Opening Remarks & Strategic Context
Speakers:

  • European Defence Agency

  • Stephane Ouaki, EIC & EISMEA

  • DG DEFIS & DG Grow

  • Bpifrance

  • BAE & EBAN

11:30 – 12:30
Roundtable #1 – Investing in Dual-Use Innovation
Public-private co-investment, early-stage financing, and strategic alignment
With FNX, EuroQuity, and public & private funds.

12:30 – 13:00
Success Stories: Startups in Focus
Two startups will showcase their pathways.

13:00 – 14:00
Walking Lunch & Startup Tables
8–10 startups will host tables for informal meetings with business angels.

14:00 – 17:45
Business Angels – Startups 1:1 Meetings

  • Format: 8–10 business angels across 4 desks

  • Schedule: 20-minute slots per startup

  • Objective: Concrete matchmaking between founders and active dual-use investors

14:00 – 15:00
Roundtable #2 – Behind the Curtain: Startups & Angels Dialogue
An honest exchange between founders and angels, sharing real feedback from both sides.

15:00 – 16:15
InvestEU Portal Pitch Session
Two resilience domains: Cyber & Health

  • Cybersecurity infrastructure in Defence

  • Next Generation of HealthTech in Defence
    10 startups, 2 verticals.

16:15 – 16:45
Coffee Break & Informal Exchange

16:45 – 17:45
Roundtable #3 – European Instruments for Defence Innovation Financing
Exploring EU funding, dual-use industrial policy, NATO links, and innovation pipelines.

17:45 – 18:15
Announcement – Defence Angels Europe Network
Launch of the first pan-European angel network focused on dual-use & defence innovation.

18:15 – 18:30
Closing Remarks
Key takeaways, next steps, and a call to action.

Register here. 

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