This Greek startup is challenging defense giants, and attracting attention, with its low-cost autonomous weapon systems

This week on StrictlyVC Download, TechCrunch EIC Connie Loizos and Alex Gove of StrictlyVC speak with Dimitrious Kottas, the founder and CEO of Delian Alliance Industries. They discuss his journey from Apple's Special Projects Group to building autonomous defense systems in Greece, how his company is reimagining surveillance and strike capabilities using AI and commercial tech, and why he believes we're at the start of a decade-long technological race in autonomous warfare.

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction

02:04 - Dimitrios's background and journey from Apple to defense tech

05:00 - The founding moment: Why he left Silicon Valley for Athens

08:55 - Starting with surveillance towers: The perception-first strategy

13:21 - Current deployments in Greece and Ukraine aspirations

16:32 - Dual-use applications and critical infrastructure protection

18:39 - The Intercept-Egon series: Concealed autonomous weapons

21:52 - Cost advantages through vertical integration

24:46 - European defense tech landscape and procurement challenges

28:16 - Greece's defense industry and cross-border competition

31:04 - Modular vs. full-stack approach

32:54 - Thoughts on Anduril and the defense tech race

35:00 - Greek roots and the personal nature of European defense

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