Defence & Aerospace
25 February 2026 | 18:00–22:00 | Zurich
We’re bringing together founders, investors, and other key players in the startup ecosystem to explore the evolving space of defense and aerospace.
What to expect:
🕠 18:00 – Doors open
🚀 18:15 – Panel on Defence and Aerospace: Michael Jackson (Deep Tech Investor), Max Gulde (Constellr), Christoph Bertschi (CDDS), Mathias Mauer (Swiss Innovation Forces), and Jonathan Gäumann (RUAG)
🍻 19:15–22:00 – Apero & networking
Who will be there?
Michael Jackson (Deep Tech Investor): he is an American in Paris, entrepreneur-turned-investor. Michael is a Venture Partner at Multiple Capital and Wilbe and with an impressive track record spanning over 25 years, he has mentored at leading accelerators such as Seedcamp, Startup Bootcamp, Wayra, Techstars, and Le Camping. He is board member in numerous startups and VC-funds.
Michael’s influence reaches far beyond the boardroom. With a robust following of 200,000 on LinkedIn, he is not only an investor but also as a thought leader. His posts offer witty and sometimes provocative insights into the European and global innovation ecosystems, challenging and inspiring his vast network of followers and professionals.
Max Gulde (co-founder and CEO of Constellr): he is a physicist with a broad scientific and technological background spanning optics, nanotechnology, and planetary science. With over a decade of experience in academia, he has contributed to leading publications such as Science and Nature. Following his postdoctoral work, Max transitioned into the satellite technology sector, where his work at the intersection of spacecraft engineering and Earth observation inspired him to co-found and lead constellr.
Christoph Bertschi (co-founder of CDDS): he is a co-founder of CDDS, a Swiss robotics company developing autonomous kinetic interceptor drones for counter-UAS missions. CDDS leverages real-time vision and learning-based control, building on leading drone research from ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich.
Mathias Mauer (CEO of Swiss Innovation Forces): he is the CEO of Swiss Innovation Forces AG, the defence innovation unit of the Swiss Armed Forces and the Federal Department of Defence. Educated at ETH Zurich and the Military Academy at ETH Zurich, Mathias operates at the intersection of defence, technology, and start-up ecosystems, building an agile organization that translates innovation into operational impact and adaptation capabilities.
Jonathan Gäumann (Senior Manager for Innovation Platforms at RUAG): As an ecosystem builder for defence innovation, fostering more sovereign technologies. With 10 years of experiences from Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne in Medtech to RUAG in Defence, he has focused on supporting Startups turning disruptive ideas into scalable business models.
Who’s it for?
Founders, engineers, investors, and ecosystem players (industry experts, public-sector / defence stakeholders, and military representatives) shaping the next generation of defence and aerospace.
This after-work gathering is hosted by Alfred and Kineo Finance creating space for great conversations and fresh connections.
🎟️ Entry is free, but registration via Luma is required.
Please note: submitting your registration does not guarantee entry. We’ll confirm via email.
Media notice: By attending, you consent to being photographed and filmed, and to the use of these materials for event and marketing purposes.