The Defence Shortcut for Deep Tech Startups
Description
Defence isn't just a market — it can be a shortcut. Working on dual-use technologies with defence often means access to funding, rigorous testing environments, and demanding use-cases that push a product's development faster than commercial markets alone ever could. The result: dual-use technology that ends up stronger, more resilient, and further along by the time it reaches civilian customers.
Join us for an evening on how startups can use defence as a growth engine. We'll cover what investors look for when backing dual-use ventures, what the defence engagement journey actually looks like — when to start and how to navigate it — and how dual-use technology moves between defence and civilian value chains. We'll close with a Queensland startup's own journey: an early-stage look at how they're deploying an existing technology into a defence application, and what they're learning along the way.
Prior to the ecosystem event, we're hosting a ChipStart Au Program info session. If you would like to know more about the semiconductor accelerator available to Queensland-based startups, come say hello. We'll cover the application process and answer any question you might have. It's also an opportunity for you to meet the team.
Light refreshments, drinks and networking will conclude the evening.
Sponsors
Agenda
- 4:15 pm - 5:00 pm
ChipStart AU info session*
*optional Prior to the main event, come meet the team, learn more about the application process to the semiconductor accelerator and ask your questions.
- 5:30 pm - 5:45 pm
Keynote | From Startup to Strategic Capability: Building Dual-Use Technology That Matters
This talk will cover: - Emily's journey through aerospace, defence, and innovation - Why dual-use is becoming a more dominant model - Lessons for founders building technology that matters
- 5:45 pm - 6:05 pm
Panel | What investors look for when backing dual-use ventures
Panel Chair: Allison Bambrick, Executive Manager at the ARM Hub Panelists: Alezeia "AB" Brown, principal investor at Main Sequence Ventures Peta Ellis, General Manager of Beaten Zone Venture Partners
- 6:05 pm - 6:15 pm
Talk | Defence Innovation Pathways
Hear about: - How to identify dual use technology - Defence programs - Accessing defence needs
- 6:15 pm - 6:40 pm
Fireside | Sovereign Capability Starts with Materials
Fireside chat with Sweet Atoms' Executive Chair, Lieuwke de Jong Sweet Atoms is an Australian advanced materials company developing high-performance carbon materials from locally available waste streams. By combining Australian feedstocks, technology and IP, Sweet Atoms is building sovereign manufacturing capability for materials critical to defence, energy storage and other high-performance applications. Its ambition is to reduce reliance on concentrated international supply chains while establishing Australia as a competitive producer and exporter of advanced carbon materials.
- 6:40 pm - 6:55 pm
Keynote | The Defence Shortcut: Chevin's Journey from Consultancy to Silicon IP Company
Steinn Gustafsson is a Cambridge-based engineer turned entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of Chevin Technology. Over the past two decades, he has led Chevin's evolution from a specialist engineering consultancy into a global developer and supplier of silicon IP serving aerospace, defence, communications, AI and high-performance computing markets. His work focuses on commercialising advanced secure networking technologies for demanding, latency-sensitive applications.
Lineup
Emily Hughes
Emily Hughes is Head of Engineering, Asia-Pacific, at Cambridge Aerospace, where she works closely with the ADF and industry to support the delivery of asymmetric, scalable capability. A technical leader with 25 years’ defence and aerospace experience, Emily has led complex programs across the innovation development lifecycle, managed multinational portfolios and led teams specialising in autonomous capabilities, advanced simulation, modelling and analytics. Emily holds advisory positions with Salus Ventures and Quintessence Labs, supporting founders and investments in the sovereign Defence and national security ecosystem. Prior to this, Emily led Boeing's Global prototyping arm, Phantom Works and held a position on Boeing Defence Australia’s board of directors. She was previously Chief Engineer for Boeing’s Phantom Works Global and has held similar technical leadership positions at BAE Systems, working across the UK, Europe and collaborating closely with teams in the USA. Emily holds a Master of Engineering in Aeronautical Systems, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
Allison Bambrick
Allison Bambrick is Executive Manager at the ARM Hub, an independent organisation helping businesses harness opportunities in digital technologies, robotics, AI, and automation to boost productivity and global competitiveness. She brings over 25 years of experience across government, industry, and research, having shaped major science and technology strategies including Queensland’s Quantum and Advanced Technologies Strategy. At ARM Hub, Allison works with the CEO and Board to scale Australian industry for global success, championing collaborations that modernise businesses, create high-value jobs, and strengthen Australia’s leadership in advanced manufacturing.
Alezeia “AB” Brown
Alezeia “AB” Brown is a principal investor at Main Sequence - a $1B deeptech VC - with a background in product management, systems design and software engineering. AB spends most of her time with companies in defence/dual use, AIML, and decarbonising industry (materials, energy, CCUS) categories, and loves to back founders who combine science/tech with market insight to build companies that will create a resilient and abundant society.
Peta Ellis
Peta Ellis is the General Manager of Beaten Zone Venture Partners and host of The Briefing Room podcast. She works across Defence innovation, venture capital and founder capability, supporting early-stage teams building Australia's sovereign capability. With nearly 30 years across entrepreneurship, technology, leadership and ecosystem development, Peta has built a career around turning ideas into action and effort into impact. She connects founders, capital, Defence and industry to help emerging companies build, prove and scale capability. Her work is focused on strengthening Australia's sovereign capability by backing the founders, technologies and companies building it.
Stu Blackwell
Stuart brings extensive Defence experience to the role as a former Army Signals Officer with experience across Defence Acquisition and Sustainment, in aviation and satellite communications programs. As a veteran with operational experience in Iraq, East Timor and Bougainville, Stuart brings leadership to complex and uncertain environments. Stuart has over 10 year’s experience in Defence Industry project delivery experience with US and Australian Prime Contractors within the aerospace and space domains. As the Director QDSA, Stuart is focussed on working with universities, Defence Industry, State and Federal Governments to drive innovation opportunities that benefit our Defence Force and Allies.
Lieuwke de Jong
Executive Chair at Sweet Atoms
Steinn Gustafsson
Steinn Gustafsson is a Cambridge-based engineer turned entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of Chevin Technology. Over the past two decades, he has led Chevin's evolution from a specialist engineering consultancy into a global developer and supplier of silicon IP serving aerospace, defence, communications, AI and high-performance computing markets. His work focuses on commercialising advanced secure networking technologies for demanding, latency-sensitive applications.at Chevin Technology
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