Why Scaling in Defense Follows Different Rules
Private investment in defense has surged to $11 billion in 2025, but capital alone doesn’t guarantee scale. Long procurement cycles, entrenched primes, and fragmented national markets mean defense start-ups face a different playbook than typical deep-tech ventures. Novaspace’s PAVED framework — Prioritize dual-use, Acquire operational support, Vertically integrate, Establish prime partnerships, Diversify funding — outlines the five strategic priorities that separate companies who scale from those stuck in the “valley of death.”