The European defense sector is experiencing a seismic shift as the European Union earmarks up to €800 billion (~$920 billion USD) in defense spending through 2030. This historic budget expansion comes in response to rising geopolitical tensions, war in Ukraine, and NATO's pressure on member states to meet spending thresholds. While the allocation creates fertile ground for venture capital (VC) investment, much of the funding is expected to be absorbed by entrenched prime contractors like Airbus $AIR.PA and Rheinmetall $RHM.DE — leaving start-ups to contend with formidable structural and regulatory challenges.