What is BeScaled
BeScaled pre-accelerator program is designed to help Estonian and Finnish startups pivot into European and NATO defence, security and resilience markets. It connects your company to an international team of research excellence, startup incubation knowledge, and strong industry networks.
The program helps startups evaluate and unlock dual-use potential in defence, security and resilience markets. It is not a generic accelerator, but a readiness-building and validation pipeline for tehnologies aiming to dual-use markets. When most accelerators improve storytelling, BeScaled improves market readiness.
The BeScaled pre-acceleration program will be implemented in four batches. The next pre-accelerator batch will start in November 2026. Registration is open until September 13th.
Batches 3 and 4 will be implemented in spring and autumn 2027.
Exact dates will be confirmed later.
The program is funded by the European Union and
it’s free for participating companies.
BeScaled focus areas
BeScaled is focusing to accelerate start-up solutions supporting critical societal functions (e.g. safety, energy, logistics, health, infrastructure). Your solution should be valuable in a crisis or high-risk situation in defence, security or crisis resilience sector.
Definitions Defence, Security, Crisis Resilience opened in boxes as follows:
Defence
Technology solutions for armed forces and defence administration. Covers situational awareness, secure communications, autonomous systems, and decision support – including in extreme and contested environments. Buyers include ministries of defence, acquisition agencies and prime contractors.
Security
Internal security solutions for government agencies and critical infrastructure protection. Focused on surveillance, threat detection, cybersecurity, secure information sharing, and real-time decision support for time-critical operations. Buyers include border agencies, law enforcement and infrastructure security units.
Crisis Resilience
Business continuity and resilience solutions for society’s vital functions. Centered on operational continuity, recovery capability, supply-chain risk monitoring and decision support under uncertainty. Buyers include critical infrastructure operators, regional authorities, and enterprises with continuity obligations.
Typical dual-use applications
Typical dual-use applications which may enter through defence, security or crisis resilience market may relate to critical infrastructure resilience e.g. in AI & data analytics, cybersecurity, XR technology and other autonomous systems.
The same technology can enter through different doors — but each door requires different validation, language and timing.
Defence
Who buys: Ministries, armed forces, primes
Focus: Mission capability in contested environments
What they value: Reliability, interoperability, long-term performance
Buying logic: Program budgets, long validation cycles
Security
Who buys: Border,
law enforcement, infrastructure security
Focus: Surveillance, cyber, real-time threat response
What they value: Operational impact, fact deployment
Buying logic: Operational budgets, pilot-driven entry
Crisis Resilience
Who buys: Energy, logistics. telecom, healthcare, regions
Focus: Continuity, recovery, supply-chain visibility
What they value: Risk reduction, compliance readiness
Buying logic: Regulation-driven demand, urgency from deadlines
Pre-accelerator structure
Program includes expert-led workshops and mentoring sessions, optional product development sprints, two end-user validation check points, Demo Day and scale-up roadmap in 5-6 months.
The program is implemented mainly online or in selected hybrid sessions. If your product has a go-to-market potential, there is an option for a funding pathway development.
BeScaled accelerates startup’s entry into defence, security & resilience through early dual-use validation and direct end-user engagement.
Assess BeScaled fit
1-2 online sessions per company
Expert-led evaluation of dual-use potential and readiness.
Explore & Validate
Mainly online sessions, 10 pcs
Workshops and mentoring with defence, security and resilience experts.
Direct end-user engagement.
Product & Business Development Program
Hands-on co-development for digital solutions to adapt & test your products.
A validated dual-use opportunity
Readiness to engage defence, security and resilience customers.
Business and industry knowledge, including deep understanding on funding, market and network opportunities.
The selection process
Applicants must be eligible to participate and aligned with dual-use technologies relevant to civilian and defence contexts. Teams should be motivated to develop their idea and commit to active participation. Compliance with legal, ethical, and security requirements is required.
Leadership
We assess the team’s motivation, commitment, and ability to learn and adapt. Complementary skills, initiative, and willingness to develop both the technology and business aspects are key.
Idea
Ideas can be at an early or evolving stage. We look at the initial vision, the relevance of the problem, and the potential for dual-use applications. Openness to refining and developing the idea during the programme is essential.
Resources
We consider both existing resources and the team’s ability to identify and secure what they need. Resourcefulness and the ability to leverage programme support are important.
Overall Assessment
Selection is based on a holistic evaluation of the pitch and development potential. The process includes expert judgement and is therefore partly subjective.
Eligibility criteria
Your company is younger than 5 years from first revenue
Your company have plans for a new company:
–
If your company is older than 5 years from first revenue, are you planning to establish a new company to explore your idea in dual-use with us?
Your company is located in Finland or Estonia
Your company is not under EU sanctions (www.sanctionsmap.eu/)
Your company is not yet operating in Defence, security and resilience sector
BeScaled uses KTH Innovation Readiness Level Toolkit to
evaluate the starting situation of the companies.
https://kthinnovationreadinesslevel.com/