📍 1 Triton Square, London NW1 3BF
In partnership with Karve and IoT Tribe, this practical event will explore how innovative dual-use technologies move from concept to contract across defence, security, infrastructure, energy, and advanced manufacturing. Focusing on how SMEs, start-ups, and non-traditional suppliers can overcome procurement barriers, secure end-user support, and achieve adoption at scale.
Through real-world case studies and lessons learned, the event examines what works in practice, from building credibility and meeting compliance requirements to aligning with customer needs and creating long-term partnerships.
The discussion places founders, investors, and decision-makers at the centre, showing how procurement can become an enabler of growth rather than a barrier.
Powered by Advanced Research + Invention Agency
In partnership with Karve and IoT Tribe
Our Thursday Gatherings are for you to make serendipitous connections and make things happen!
There will be meaningful networking opportunities throughout the night, accompanied by a selection of refreshments and activities:
Fun Zone
Get to know your fellow change-makers in a fun, interactive, and exciting way!
Take a quick break from changing the world and recharge by pinning your hometown on our giant map.
Conversation Corner
Looking to connect beyond the name tags?
Drop into our relaxed Conversation Corner, a cosy space where founders, ecosystem builders, and global thinkers come together to share stories, swap lessons, and innovate. Grab a drink, pull up a chair, and jump into the discussion.
We're excited to welcome a brilliant lineup of startups.
- Neuron - turns physical devices into public or permissioned edge nodes, enabling AI and software platforms to access and control them seamlessly.
- Battle Bottle - AI that orchestrates how unmanned systems are deployed in a counter-drone fight.
- Tipply AI - AI that controls flight systems, where the vehicle makes its own dynamics-driven decisions.
- The Structural Battery Company - develops structural energy systems that combine battery storage and load-bearing structure in one integrated design.
- Chimera Energy - develops cutting-edge, multi-chemistry portable energy storage systems and remanufacturing battery packs for the circular economy.
- Beyond Blood - developing a portable medical device that enables individuals with rare diseases to perform Full Blood Counts (FBCs) at home.
Founders, engineers, scientists often undervalue what they create. In this practical workshop, Nick Silvester will discuss how founders can build value in a company, and more importantly, realise that value through its intellectual property.
The session will cover:
- How to recognise valuable Intellectual Property.
- How to maintain control of that Intellectual Property to capture the value for your company.
- Risks and pitfalls to avoid when engaging with partners or expanding into new markets.
- How to navigate growth milestones such as preparing for investment or exit.
Welcome remarks from VCL and partners.
Opening keynote from the evening's partners.
- Neuron - turns physical devices into public or permissioned edge nodes, enabling AI and software platforms to access and control them seamlessly.
- Battle Bottle - AI that orchestrates how unmanned systems are deployed in a counter-drone fight.
- Tipply AI - AI that controls flight systems, where the vehicle makes its own dynamics-driven decisions.
- The Structural Battery Company - develops structural energy systems that combine battery storage and load-bearing structure in one integrated design.
- Chimera Energy - develops cutting-edge, multi-chemistry portable energy storage systems and remanufacturing battery packs for the circular economy.
- Beyond Blood - developing a portable medical device that enables individuals with rare diseases to perform Full Blood Counts (FBCs) at home.
Ryan Benitez is the Chief Commercial Officer at NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator of the North Atlantic (DIANA), where she is responsible for leading the organisation’s industry and venture capital engagement strategy, building pathways to commercialise and scale dual-use startups across NATO member countries. Her focus is to drive growth and adoption of emerging and disruptive technologies in both the commercial market and into the hands of the warfighter.
Prior to this post, Ryan worked across national security, venture capital, and technology acceleration. She has advised and invested in early-stage companies throughout her experience in venture capital and scaled accelerator programming for the U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Energy.
Ryan began her career as a U.S. Navy officer, leading operations at sea and abroad. National security and innovation have remained central themes throughout her career, with a particular focus on bridging the gap between startups and government to deliver cutting edge capabilities at speed and scale. Ryan holds a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) from The Wharton School and Master's in Security Studies from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School.
Josh is a member of the Strategic Partnerships team at Karve International, where he leads the company's events programme and supports strategic engagement across government, industry, investors, and defence. His role focuses on identifying and supporting innovative SMEs, helping accelerate their route to market across the UK, Europe, and NATO.
Prior to joining Karve, Josh served for ten years in the Royal Navy, initially in logistics and operational sustainability before moving into a strategic analyst role, producing research that supported senior defence decision-making.
He later joined the London Defence Conference as Head of Operations, leading the delivery of four international defence conferences, including the organisation's inaugural conference in the United States, while building strategic partnerships across the defence sector.Josh combines his military experience with expertise in strategic partnerships and defence engagement, connecting government, industry, and innovators to accelerate the adoption of emerging capabilities across the UK, Europe, and NATO.
Josh holds a BA in International Relations and Intelligence and will begin an MA in Climate Change and Sustainability in October.
As Head of Growth, Kieran leads the commercial function at Karve International, driving the company's growth across UK and European NATO defence markets and the adoption of Karve OS, its AI-powered platform matching capability requirements to suppliers, funding routes and partners.
He served for 12 years as a Commando Officer in the Royal Marines, with his final four years executing campaign strategy at the Ministry of Defence's strategic headquarters and at PJHQ, the UK's global operational headquarters, where his work centred on the Middle East and countering terrorism. He then transitioned into finance, joining Goldman Sachs in sales and trading before spending five years in equities at Morgan Stanley, advising clients across hedge fund markets.
This combination of operational military service, strategic defence planning and public markets experience underpins his work at the meeting point of national security, procurement and private finance. Kieran holds an MA in International Relations and National Security Studies from King's College London.
Hattie Mellor is Head of Partnerships at IoT Tribe, where she leads strategic collaborations that accelerate the growth and adoption of disruptive technologies. As Lead of the Janus Consortium, she works across industry, government, and the innovation ecosystem to foster partnerships that drive technology commercialisation and real-world impact.
At IoT Tribe, Hattie helps organisations fast-track technology adoption through collaborative innovation, connecting corporates, startups, and research partners to solve complex challenges. Her work spans accelerator programmes, corporate innovation, ecosystem development, and strategic partnerships, supporting the successful deployment of emerging technologies across multiple sectors.
With a passion for building high-impact collaborations, Hattie brings together diverse stakeholders to create opportunities for innovation, growth, and long-term value.
A former Royal Marines officer with operational service in Iraq and Afghanistan, John founded The SB Co. after completing an MSc in Advanced Motorsport Engineering at Cranfield University. The company's patented technology enables drones, autonomous systems and future aerospace platforms to become lighter, stronger and more capable by integrating the battery into the vehicle structure.
The SB Co. has demonstrated its technology at TRL 6, secured multiple UK patents, and is working with partners across defence, aerospace and space to bring structural batteries into commercial service.
Nick is a Chartered British and European Patent Attorney and leads IP Asset's engineering and software & AI team. He spent 18 years as a Race Engineer and Design Engineer in motorsport and automotive industries, including the FIA World Touring Car Championship where he contributed to World Championship victories in 2012, 2014–2017. He was also involved in Nissan's ZEOD zero emission Le Mans entry and development of the Nissan Juke R. Since joining IP Asset, Nick has amassed a wealth of experience supporting growth-stage engineering clients with IP strategy and protection.
With over two decades of experience, Dr Suárez specialises in tech strategy, venture building and the exploration of new tech markets.
She is the founder and CEO of IoT Tribe, an equity-free deeptech accelerator, headquartered in London with offices in Singapore and Dublin. Current programmes include Janus, a dual-use accelerator delivered on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence and NATO DIANA and X_Potential, an employee innovation incubator for ESB Ireland. Additionally, Dr. Suárez leads BluSpecs, a strategic advisory firm that operates at the nexus of advanced technology development, business and policy. A seasoned contributor to ecosystem events, Dr Suárez has delivered keynotes and moderated panels for renowned platforms including The Economist, the AI Summit, and the Global IoT & Edge Summit.
Dr. Suárez holds positions on several boards, including Trinity Business School, and is a governing board member of the Quantum Industry Consortium. She previously served on the board of the Alliance of Cloud, Edge, and IoT Innovation (AIOTI), an industry body that champions the Cloud to Edge AI- IoT ecosystem in Europe, where she continues to provide strategic guidance.
Since 2018, Dr Suárez has been a jury member for the European Innovation Council (EIC) and is now a jury member for STEP scale up, a new initiative co-investing in strategic technology scaleups with tickets of € 10-30M. Dr Suárez is recognised as a WEF European Digital Leader and is an active member of Tech London Advocates, Tech Quantum Advocates, and Tech Spain Advocates.
📍 1 Triton Square, London NW1 3BF
In partnership with Karve and IoT Tribe, this practical event will explore how innovative dual-use technologies move from concept to contract across defence, security, infrastructure, energy, and advanced manufacturing. Focusing on how SMEs, start-ups, and non-traditional suppliers can overcome procurement barriers, secure end-user support, and achieve adoption at scale.
Through real-world case studies and lessons learned, the event examines what works in practice, from building credibility and meeting compliance requirements to aligning with customer needs and creating long-term partnerships.
The discussion places founders, investors, and decision-makers at the centre, showing how procurement can become an enabler of growth rather than a barrier.
Powered by Advanced Research + Invention Agency
In partnership with Karve and IoT Tribe
Our Thursday Gatherings are for you to make serendipitous connections and make things happen!
There will be meaningful networking opportunities throughout the night, accompanied by a selection of refreshments and activities:
Fun Zone
Get to know your fellow change-makers in a fun, interactive, and exciting way!
Take a quick break from changing the world and recharge by pinning your hometown on our giant map.
Conversation Corner
Looking to connect beyond the name tags?
Drop into our relaxed Conversation Corner, a cosy space where founders, ecosystem builders, and global thinkers come together to share stories, swap lessons, and innovate. Grab a drink, pull up a chair, and jump into the discussion.
We're excited to welcome a brilliant lineup of startups.
- Neuron - turns physical devices into public or permissioned edge nodes, enabling AI and software platforms to access and control them seamlessly.
- Battle Bottle - AI that orchestrates how unmanned systems are deployed in a counter-drone fight.
- Tipply AI - AI that controls flight systems, where the vehicle makes its own dynamics-driven decisions.
- The Structural Battery Company - develops structural energy systems that combine battery storage and load-bearing structure in one integrated design.
- Chimera Energy - develops cutting-edge, multi-chemistry portable energy storage systems and remanufacturing battery packs for the circular economy.
- Beyond Blood - developing a portable medical device that enables individuals with rare diseases to perform Full Blood Counts (FBCs) at home.
Founders, engineers, scientists often undervalue what they create. In this practical workshop, Nick Silvester will discuss how founders can build value in a company, and more importantly, realise that value through its intellectual property.
The session will cover:
- How to recognise valuable Intellectual Property.
- How to maintain control of that Intellectual Property to capture the value for your company.
- Risks and pitfalls to avoid when engaging with partners or expanding into new markets.
- How to navigate growth milestones such as preparing for investment or exit.
Welcome remarks from VCL and partners.
Opening keynote from the evening's partners.
- Neuron - turns physical devices into public or permissioned edge nodes, enabling AI and software platforms to access and control them seamlessly.
- Battle Bottle - AI that orchestrates how unmanned systems are deployed in a counter-drone fight.
- Tipply AI - AI that controls flight systems, where the vehicle makes its own dynamics-driven decisions.
- The Structural Battery Company - develops structural energy systems that combine battery storage and load-bearing structure in one integrated design.
- Chimera Energy - develops cutting-edge, multi-chemistry portable energy storage systems and remanufacturing battery packs for the circular economy.
- Beyond Blood - developing a portable medical device that enables individuals with rare diseases to perform Full Blood Counts (FBCs) at home.
Ryan Benitez is the Chief Commercial Officer at NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator of the North Atlantic (DIANA), where she is responsible for leading the organisation’s industry and venture capital engagement strategy, building pathways to commercialise and scale dual-use startups across NATO member countries. Her focus is to drive growth and adoption of emerging and disruptive technologies in both the commercial market and into the hands of the warfighter.
Prior to this post, Ryan worked across national security, venture capital, and technology acceleration. She has advised and invested in early-stage companies throughout her experience in venture capital and scaled accelerator programming for the U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Energy.
Ryan began her career as a U.S. Navy officer, leading operations at sea and abroad. National security and innovation have remained central themes throughout her career, with a particular focus on bridging the gap between startups and government to deliver cutting edge capabilities at speed and scale. Ryan holds a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) from The Wharton School and Master's in Security Studies from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School.
Josh is a member of the Strategic Partnerships team at Karve International, where he leads the company's events programme and supports strategic engagement across government, industry, investors, and defence. His role focuses on identifying and supporting innovative SMEs, helping accelerate their route to market across the UK, Europe, and NATO.
Prior to joining Karve, Josh served for ten years in the Royal Navy, initially in logistics and operational sustainability before moving into a strategic analyst role, producing research that supported senior defence decision-making.
He later joined the London Defence Conference as Head of Operations, leading the delivery of four international defence conferences, including the organisation's inaugural conference in the United States, while building strategic partnerships across the defence sector.Josh combines his military experience with expertise in strategic partnerships and defence engagement, connecting government, industry, and innovators to accelerate the adoption of emerging capabilities across the UK, Europe, and NATO.
Josh holds a BA in International Relations and Intelligence and will begin an MA in Climate Change and Sustainability in October.
As Head of Growth, Kieran leads the commercial function at Karve International, driving the company's growth across UK and European NATO defence markets and the adoption of Karve OS, its AI-powered platform matching capability requirements to suppliers, funding routes and partners.
He served for 12 years as a Commando Officer in the Royal Marines, with his final four years executing campaign strategy at the Ministry of Defence's strategic headquarters and at PJHQ, the UK's global operational headquarters, where his work centred on the Middle East and countering terrorism. He then transitioned into finance, joining Goldman Sachs in sales and trading before spending five years in equities at Morgan Stanley, advising clients across hedge fund markets.
This combination of operational military service, strategic defence planning and public markets experience underpins his work at the meeting point of national security, procurement and private finance. Kieran holds an MA in International Relations and National Security Studies from King's College London.
Hattie Mellor is Head of Partnerships at IoT Tribe, where she leads strategic collaborations that accelerate the growth and adoption of disruptive technologies. As Lead of the Janus Consortium, she works across industry, government, and the innovation ecosystem to foster partnerships that drive technology commercialisation and real-world impact.
At IoT Tribe, Hattie helps organisations fast-track technology adoption through collaborative innovation, connecting corporates, startups, and research partners to solve complex challenges. Her work spans accelerator programmes, corporate innovation, ecosystem development, and strategic partnerships, supporting the successful deployment of emerging technologies across multiple sectors.
With a passion for building high-impact collaborations, Hattie brings together diverse stakeholders to create opportunities for innovation, growth, and long-term value.
A former Royal Marines officer with operational service in Iraq and Afghanistan, John founded The SB Co. after completing an MSc in Advanced Motorsport Engineering at Cranfield University. The company's patented technology enables drones, autonomous systems and future aerospace platforms to become lighter, stronger and more capable by integrating the battery into the vehicle structure.
The SB Co. has demonstrated its technology at TRL 6, secured multiple UK patents, and is working with partners across defence, aerospace and space to bring structural batteries into commercial service.
Nick is a Chartered British and European Patent Attorney and leads IP Asset's engineering and software & AI team. He spent 18 years as a Race Engineer and Design Engineer in motorsport and automotive industries, including the FIA World Touring Car Championship where he contributed to World Championship victories in 2012, 2014–2017. He was also involved in Nissan's ZEOD zero emission Le Mans entry and development of the Nissan Juke R. Since joining IP Asset, Nick has amassed a wealth of experience supporting growth-stage engineering clients with IP strategy and protection.
With over two decades of experience, Dr Suárez specialises in tech strategy, venture building and the exploration of new tech markets.
She is the founder and CEO of IoT Tribe, an equity-free deeptech accelerator, headquartered in London with offices in Singapore and Dublin. Current programmes include Janus, a dual-use accelerator delivered on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence and NATO DIANA and X_Potential, an employee innovation incubator for ESB Ireland. Additionally, Dr. Suárez leads BluSpecs, a strategic advisory firm that operates at the nexus of advanced technology development, business and policy. A seasoned contributor to ecosystem events, Dr Suárez has delivered keynotes and moderated panels for renowned platforms including The Economist, the AI Summit, and the Global IoT & Edge Summit.
Dr. Suárez holds positions on several boards, including Trinity Business School, and is a governing board member of the Quantum Industry Consortium. She previously served on the board of the Alliance of Cloud, Edge, and IoT Innovation (AIOTI), an industry body that champions the Cloud to Edge AI- IoT ecosystem in Europe, where she continues to provide strategic guidance.
Since 2018, Dr Suárez has been a jury member for the European Innovation Council (EIC) and is now a jury member for STEP scale up, a new initiative co-investing in strategic technology scaleups with tickets of € 10-30M. Dr Suárez is recognised as a WEF European Digital Leader and is an active member of Tech London Advocates, Tech Quantum Advocates, and Tech Spain Advocates.