EGIDE raises €8m seed round led by Expeditions, Eurazeo, and Heartcore Capital to develop next-generation defence arsenal

• EGIDE is building scalable defence systems designed to counter the growing threat of cheap suicide drones and strike munitions 

• The €8M seed round will accelerate the development of cost-efficient interceptors and Mystique, EGIDE’s hardware-agnostic defence platform, for air, ground and maritime defence missions

• Funding will support the expansion of the engineering team, bringing together the best talent from across Europe to develop the next generation of affordable interceptors

Paris, France – 23 March 2026

EGIDE, a French defence technology startup building the next generation of affordable defence systems, today announced it has raised an €8 million seed round. The round was co-led by Expeditions, Eurazeo, and Heartcore Capital, with participation from Galion.exe and Kima Ventures. 

As defence leaders gather at the Paris Defence and Strategy Forum this week, boosting Europe’s arsenal is top of the agenda. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Iran conflict have shown how quickly cheap drones can overwhelm legacy defence systems. Europe and its NATO allies must transition from limited, high-cost interceptors to a new generation of adaptable and scalable systems that can counter constantly evolving threats. EGIDE aims to lead this shift by building affordable and integrated defence systems designed for modern battlefields and critical infrastructure protection.

At the core of the company’s approach is developing a new kind of electrically-propelled interceptor and Mystique, a hardware-agnostic software platform that leverages distributed sensors, AI-driven detection and layered interception systems. This next generation munition architecture enables reactive iteration to evolving targets and faster integration across different weapon platforms and missions while reducing the cost and complexity associated with traditional defence systems. 

Founded in 2025 by former MBDA aerospace and defence engineers Simon Calonne and Florian Audigier, EGIDE was created to address the rapidly growing threat posed by cheap mass-produced drones and strike munitions, which are increasingly challenging traditional defence systems. Calonne and Audigier bring deep expertise in advanced defence technologies from their time at MBDA, Europe’s leading missile systems manufacturer. Calonne is an aerospace engineer specialising in Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC), while Audigier is a pyrotechnical engineer with extensive experience in warhead design.

The company will use the new funding to accelerate the design and production of electrically-propelled interceptors and the development of its Mystique operating platform. EGIDE will look to expand its engineering team, bringing together the best talent from across Europe with expertise in electric propulsion, aerodynamic and warhead design and software engineering. 

On this announcement, Simon Calonne, Co-founder of EGIDE, said: “Low-cost drones are fundamentally transforming modern warfare. Systems designed to intercept a small number of high-value threats are now being confronted with large volumes of inexpensive and highly adaptable aerial systems.

At EGIDE we are building a new generation of scalable and affordable defence capabilities designed to meet this challenge. Our ambition is to build a European leader in mass-affordable interceptors capable of protecting forces and critical infrastructure against evolving aerial, sea and ground threats. This funding allows us to accelerate the development of our interceptors and Mystique, and build the team that will help reshape Europe’s defence architecture.”

Dr Mikołaj Firlej, Co-Founder and General Partner at Expeditions, said: “Europe is entering a decisive moment in the rebuilding of its security architecture. The rapid proliferation of low-cost drones is transforming the character of warfare, exposing critical vulnerabilities and unsustainable economics associated with legacy defence systems.

Simon, Florian and the EGIDE team are addressing this challenge by developing scalable defence capabilities built specifically for the realities of modern conflict. At Expeditions we back founders rebuilding the technological foundations of European security, and EGIDE is exactly the type of company we believe will play a defining role in that transformation.”

Thomas Turelier, Managing Director at Eurazeo, commented:  “Strengthening Europe’s sovereignty and resilience is a strategic priority in today’s environment. EGIDE’s approach to cost-efficient interceptors that can be integrated across air, sea and ground missions reflect this broader dynamic. Simon, Florian and the team bring a rare depth of experience in the technologies that will be key in safeguarding Europe’s security , and we’re proud to support them as they build the next generation of defence systems.”

Jimmy Fussing Nielsen, Partner at Heartcore Capital, said: “Cheap attack drones have significantly changed the economics of warfare, overwhelming legacy defence systems and pushing Europe to find a new answer. We see a key opportunity in cost-effective, intelligent defence systems that deliver resilience across domains. Simon and Florian are exceptional founders and we look forward to supporting them as they build EGIDE to develop the affordable arsenal Europe urgently needs.”

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About EGIDE 

EGIDE is a defence-tech start-up building the next generation of affordable defence systems. EGIDE is pioneering a shift from scarce, high-cost munitions to intelligent, networked interceptors designed for scale, modularity, and operational resilience across air, maritime and ground missions. Founded in 2025 by aerospace and defence engineers Simon Calonne and Florian Audigier, it aims to build the next generation of Europe’s arsenal that will counter constantly evolving threats. 

About Expeditions 

Expeditions is the leading early-stage investor in the future of European security. Founded in 2021 by a team of early researchers and pioneers in the future of warfare, Expeditions invests in leading startups at the intersection of security and deep tech. It is a champion for innovation in these crucial sectors, breaking down institutional resistance and driving the policy changes that will enable exceptional European founders to succeed.

About Eurazeo

Eurazeo is a leading European investment group with €39 billion in diversified assets under management, including €30 billion on behalf of institutional and retail clients through its private equity, private debt, real estate and infrastructure strategies. Eurazeo works with more than 600 mid-market companies, supporting their development by leveraging the commitment and talents of its more than 450 employees, its expertise across multiple sectors, its privileged access to global markets via 14 offices in Europe, Asia and the United States, and its responsible approach to value creation based on growth. The company’s institutional and family shareholding structure, and its solid financial structure, ensure its long-term viability.

Eurazeo has offices in Paris, New York, London, Frankfurt, Berlin, Milan, Stockholm, Madrid, Luxembourg, Shanghai, Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo and São Paulo.

Eurazeo is listed on Euronext Paris.

ISIN: FR000121121 - Bloomberg: RF FP - Reuters: EURA.PA.

About Heartcore Capital

Heartcore Capital is one of Europe's top-performing early-stage VC firms, backing exceptional European founders from inception through Series A. Investing across the technology stack and industry verticals, Heartcore's 19-year track has resulted in approx. €10B in created enterprise value and multi-billion M&A and IPO liquidity. Heartcore was the first institutional backer in companies including Tink (acq. by Visa for $2.2B), Peakon (acq. by Workday for $700M), Boozt ($1B IPO), GetYourGuide, TravelPerk, Neo4j, and many others.