The Defence Angels European Network (DAEN), the first pan-European Business Angels network dedicated to investments in defence and security technologies, has officially launched its operations in Brussels, bringing together investors from 16 countries. Romania is part of the initiative’s governing structure, represented on the Board by TechAngels.
DAEN is the first European structure dedicated exclusively to early-stage investments in defence and dual-use technologies and aims to develop a pan-European capital infrastructure for strategic technologies, facilitating cross-border co-investments and providing startups with access to expertise and international partnerships. The network is supported by Business Angels Europe (BAE), the European Business Angel Network (EBAN), Bpifrance, and Defence Angels.
“By strengthening cross-border cooperation among investors, DAEN aims to become the reference platform for Business Angels investing in Europe’s strategic capabilities,” said Guy Gourevitch, President of DAEN.
Romania is represented on the Board by Vasile Țiple, Board Member of TechAngels, the largest community of business angels in Romania. Participation in this structure enables Romanian investors to access international investment syndicates and specialized European deal flow in defence and dual-use technologies.
“Through TechAngels’ involvement in DAEN, the Romanian private investor community connects directly to the pan-European capital infrastructure dedicated to defence and security technologies. Our presence on the Board allows us to actively contribute to the development of cross-border co-investment mechanisms and to facilitate Romanian startups’ access to specialized capital.”— Vasile Țiple, DAEN Board Member & TechAngels Board Member
For Romanian startups, integration into a coordinated European network can accelerate scaling and access to funding in a sector characterized by specific regulations and high compliance requirements.
“Participation in DAEN reflects the natural evolution of the Romanian angel investing ecosystem toward strategic areas of innovation. We believe Romania has real potential in dual-use technologies, and connecting to a coordinated European framework accelerates both investment activity and the maturation of this segment,” said Marius Istrate, President of TechAngels.
DAEN aims to support more than 100 startups by 2030 through a community of over 1,000 Business Angels across Europe. In the coming period, DAEN will begin recruiting Business Angels at the European level and will officially open the startup selection process for the first coordinated cross-border investments.