WHAT IS FORTRESS

Defence tech is about making tomorrow safer, and you should get into it.

Fortress shows teams which defence themes are worth building for, because the field told us they need them.

This is not a hackathon. It's a three-week residency where you build with the guidance of defence and security operators to validate a real need, build a working prototype, and test it. You keep your equity and your IP.

TT Säätiö EkspSäätiö Lappeenranta Airport 17Tech EMRC

HOW IT WORKS

Before each Fleet we sit down with the defence and security field and work out a theme. You arrive in Lappeenranta with the area already defined, and work next to the people who understand it.

You have three weeks to take it from idea to something that works. We cover the materials and software you need during the residency. You have access to mentors and the defence ecosystem from day one.

After three weeks you show what you built to operators, industry and investors. They see the prototype working in the conditions.

WHAT WE PROVIDE

  • Accommodation and meals during the Fleet
  • Travel to the location covered
  • A prototyping component budget per team
  • The software and hardware tools you need
  • Access to feedback from inside the defence and security field
  • No equity. No IP claims. You keep one hundred percent of your company.

WHO THIS IS FOR

Students, teams and solo founders who want to break into defence tech and dual use. We look for technical depth and people who build because the problem matters.

Fortress is open to citizens of NATO member countries and Ukraine. Because the programme involves defence-relevant technology, applicants who also hold citizenship of Russia, Belarus, Iran, North Korea or China are not eligible. All team members taking part must meet these criteria.