Dimitrios is the founder and CEO of Delian Alliance Industries (formerly Lambda Automata), which is building autonomous defence systems for European defence needs.
In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Dimitrios shares his journey from leading autonomous systems development at Apple to building a defence tech company that raised €7 million to create high-tech autonomous weapon systems for the future of Europe. Discover the ethical dilemma he wrestled with, how he convinced his first investors to bet on him, and the moment he realized that building defence tech was not just a business opportunity but a duty of his lifetime.
Want to invest in Delian? https://tally.so/r/316RoL
Want to get hired at Delian? https://tally.so/r/w4zOVo
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Timestamps:
(00:00) - Introduction
(01:43) - What is Delian Alliance Industries
(05:34) - Journey from Academic Research to Apple
(06:47) - The Ethical Considerations When Starting a Defence Tech
(12:08) - Why Dimitri Returned to Europe to Start a Defence Company
(17:49) - First Products: Surveillance Towers and Border Security
(24:54) - Core Technologies and Capabilities for Defence
(28:49) - Finding Co-Founders Through Twitter and LinkedIn
(34:59) - Securing First Investment
(38:46) - Transitioning Between Military and Civilian Applications
(43:03) - The Need for Cultural Change in European Defence
(44:46) - Navigating NATO Certification as a Startup
(46:47) - Rebranding to Delian Alliance Industries
(50:08) - Future Vision for European Defence Tech
(51:04) - Quick Fire Advice and Lessons Learned
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Takeaways:
1) The Ethics of Defence Technology
- In a world where adversaries deploy lethal autonomous systems, inaction is the least ethical choice
- European democracies must develop defence capabilities to protect their way of life and borders
2) Finding the Right People Is Your Most Critical Task
- Identify people who can solve problems outside your expertise but share your mission commitment
- Look beyond traditional recruitment: Dimitrios found his co-founder on Twitter and LinkedIn job post
3) Europe Has the Talent but Needs Cultural Transformation
- Europe's engineering talent is world-class, but the ecosystem lacks ambition for hard tech problems
- "If people attempt to build a time machine in the US they'll get funding; in Europe they'll get dismissed"
4) Defence Tech Requires Multiple Core Competencies Under One Roof
- Traditional defence primes fragment critical capabilities across subcontractors causing inefficiency
- Success requires integrating AI, manufacturing, compliance, and financing under unified leadership
5) Start with Deployable Products While Building Core Technology
- Your first product should solve an immediate need while developing technologies for long-term
- Surveillance towers provided immediate revenue and real-world deployment experience
6) Overcoming Perceived Barriers to Entry
- "Incumbents want you to believe you need at least €2 million just for certification"
- Find the right person with expertise who believes in you rather than throwing money at the problem
7) The Future of Defence: Low-Cost, High-Volume Systems
- Global defence is shifting from expensive, exquisite systems to affordable, distributed platforms
- Focus on building systems for real threats in Eastern Europe rather than theoretical capabilities
8) Bringing Silicon Valley Mindset to European Defence
- European defence founders need "a mindset of let's be the best thing on the planet"
- Look for investors who share a global ambition rather than regional satisfaction