Paris and Berlin, 21 July 2026 – Earlybird and AVP are pleased to welcome Airbus Defence and Space as the anchor investor in E2D, the €500m dual-use and defence technology growth fund the two firms launched last month. Alongside this milestone, E2D announces its first investment in Alta Ares.
Airbus Defence and Space’s commitment as anchor LP underscores the growing conviction among European industrial and defence leaders that dual-use innovation is essential to closing capability gaps and reinforcing continental sovereignty. E2D was established to back the next generation of European technology champions across space, air, land, maritime and subsurface domains, targeting around 20 companies at an average ticket size of approximately €25m.
The fund is also announcing its first investment in French-headquartered Alta Ares, a company developing AI-powered hardware and agnostic software for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and counter-unmanned aerial systems (UAS) missions. This follows a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between Airbus Defence and Space and Alta Ares to co-develop and integrate next-generation European counter-drone solutions into Airbus’ battle management suite.
“Airbus’s Defence and Space’s commitment as anchor LP brings E2D closer to the operators and industrial primes our portfolio companies need to scale. Alta Ares is exactly the kind of business we set out to support: agile, mission-focused, and already delivering for European armed forces,” said Roland Manger, Co-Founder of Earlybird.
“Welcoming Airbus Defence and Space as anchor LP is a strong vote of confidence in E2D’s mission, and a clear signal that Europe’s industrial leaders are ready to back the growth-stage companies that will close our capability gaps. Alta Ares’s rapid progress from the battlefield to the boardroom is precisely the kind of European deep tech story we want to invest in,” added Benoit Fosseprez, General Partner at AVP.
About E2D
E2D is a new dual-use and defence technology growth fund with a target size of €500m. Providing capital at scale, it funds the next wave of technological innovation created by European growth-stage companies, fosters new technology adoption across the continent’s armed forces and strategic industries, and thus supports European sovereignty and economic growth. E2D is jointly owned and advised by AVP and Earlybird.
About Earlybird
Founded in 1997, pan-European VC Earlybird backs exceptional early-stage companies, supporting them through their growth and development phases and providing financial resources, strategic support, plus access to an international network and capital markets. Through two separate strategies, Earlybird focuses on tech-enabled businesses across software applications, infrastructure, and deep tech, while Earlybird Health focuses on life science breakthroughs accelerated by data-driven analytics and operations. Earlybird also has a pro-bono impact initiative, Vision Lab. With €2.5 billion under management across fund streams and a history of 9 IPOs and 41 trade sales, Earlybird is among Europe’s most established and active venture capital firms. Please visit: www.earlybird.com.
About AVP
AVP is an independent global investment platform dedicated to high-growth, tech (from deep-tech to tech-enabled) companies across Europe and North America, managing more than €2.5bn of assets across venture and growth strategies. Its multi-stage platform combines global research with local execution to drive investment. Since its establishment in 2016, AVP has invested in more than 60 technology companies. Beyond providing equity capital, its expansion team works closely with founders, providing the expertise, connections, and resources needed to unlock growth opportunities and create lasting value through meaningful collaborations. For more information, please visit: www.avpcap.com.
