ChinaTalk Second Breakfast: Iran, Munich + European Defense Tech, Anthropic
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Feb 20, 2026 Eric Slesinger, a Madrid-based early-stage investor in European defense tech and former U.S. intelligence official, shares Munich takeaways and the rising role of defense-focused startups. He contrasts U.S. tech-first culture with Europe’s defense-first approach. Topics include European procurement, cybersecurity risks to startups, Ukrainian battlefield innovation, AI and sovereign LLM gaps, and who might adopt autonomy first.
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Investor Background And Munich Takeaways
- Eric Schlesinger introduced himself as a Madrid-based early-stage defense investor and former U.S. intelligence community member.
- He described Munich's vibe and how Europeans reacted after the prior year's controversial speeches.
European Defense Tech Is Maturing
- Defense tech is now an accepted, visible part of Munich conversations, marking ecosystem maturity in Europe.
- Eric sees infighting and competition as healthy signs that winners and losers are emerging.
Partner Primes To Bridge Scale Gaps
- European startups should sell 'tech-first' narratives and partner with primes to bridge software gaps.
- Eric advises founders to use partnerships with primes to access procurement and scale.