PDTW 2025. The first Prague Defense Tech Week brings together European innovators and investors

The first Prague Defense Tech Week will take place in Prague.

The event, which will run from June 3 to 8, aims to bring together the representatives of miltech startups, the defense industry, and potential investors in one place.

The event is organized by the Presto Tech Horizons fund, the Invest in Bravery public organization, and the European Defense Tech Hub (EDTH) platform.

The Czech publication Armadni Noviny quotes Vojta Roček, a partner at Presto Tech Horizons:

The goal of PDTW is to turn statements and potential into real action. Practical results are important to us. At Presto, we support hackathons and other applied formats because that is where something tangible is born — when people roll up their sleeves and tackle specific problems. Within 48 hours, it becomes clear what is worthwhile and what can be discarded, and everyone gains access to critically important knowledge.

A large Ukrainian delegation will arrive in Prague to participate in the event, with the support of Invest in Bravery. Lola Onipko, co-founder of the pro-Ukrainian initiative, commented on the need to involve people with Ukrainian experience:

The future of defense is no longer being shaped by large arms giants, but by flexible startups. Ukrainian founders are developing technologies right on the front lines — and they have an immediate effect in combat conditions.

Among the Ukrainians who will speak at PDTW are Ihor Fedirko (Ukrainian Council of Arms Manufacturers), Serhii Kuprienko (Swarmer), and Denys Nikolaienko (Oko Camera).

Also participating will be Viktoriia Honcharuk (combat medic of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade), Olha Prudka (Diia City), and Vasyl Zvarych, Ukraine’s ambassador to the Czech Republic.

According to the organizers, one of the key goals of the event is to overcome traditional investor fears about investing in defense projects. After all, the geopolitical situation has changed — investment in defense technologies has become a strategic necessity. Support is needed for startups in the fields of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, satellite technologies, and autonomous systems — and an understanding that this is not just about weapons, but first and foremost about protecting critical infrastructure and digital sovereignty.

Good intentions are not enough for peace — that is why we are bringing the European Defense Tech Hackathon to Prague on June 6–8. More than a hundred European innovators will work on solving pressing threats, from combating drones to demining, says Benjamin Wolba of EDTH.

On June 3, the DEFSEC2025 security conference will take place. On June 4, there will be a challenge from NATO DIANA. On June 5, the Invest in Bravery summit will be held. And on June 6–8, the EDTH hackathon will take place.

For more details about the event program, please visit the event page at pdtw.cz.