Inside the rise of Europe's defense-tech startups

Inside the rise of Europe's defense-tech startups

Getty Images; Tyler Le/BIKelluu began, as startups often do, in an old shed.The small Finnish company makes airships — think van-sized blimps — originally designed to watch over power lines with cameras.When I met the firm's CEO, Janne Hietala, last fall, he arrived at our restaurant in Joensuu with news. Kelluu, a seven-year-old company, had just become a defense contractor.A NATO member had agreed to buy airships for surveillance under an alli…

The rush for Europe’s $920 billion warchest

Getty Images; Tyler Le/BI Kelluu began, as startups often do, in an old shed. The small Finnish company makes airships — think van-sized blimps — originally designed to watch over power lines with cameras. When I met the firm’s CEO, Janne Hietala, last fall, he arrived at our restaurant in Joensuu with news. Kelluu, a seven-year-old company, had just become a defense contractor. A NATO member had agreed to buy airships for surveillance under an …