Europe faces mounting threats that demand urgent action. For nearly a decade, we have been involved in shaping research and investment around European security and defence, and the need is only growing.
Our mission is to back the entrepreneurs designing the architecture of Europe’s security, and in doing so, restoring its economic and strategic power.
We are also committed advocates for innovation in deep tech and defence, breaking down institutional resistance to drive the policy changes that will enable the best European founders to succeed.
Dr Mikolaj Firlej is an investor, academic and policy expert in security and defence, specialising in the application of autonomous systems and AI. He completed his D.Phil at Oxford University with a thesis on ‘The Problematisation of Autonomous Weapon Systems’, and has been a deep tech investor since 2016. Miko co-founded Firlej Kastory, a private investment firm, and launched Expeditions, the leading early-stage investor in the future of European security, in 2021.
Miko has advised both the UK and Polish governments, working as a security analyst and policy advisor, and was also part of a UN Group of Governmental Experts on the regulation of autonomous weapons. He established the Centre for Technology and Global Affairs at Oxford University and has taught at the University of Surrey on AI Law and Regulation. He holds three Masters degrees in addition to his doctorate.
Stanislaw Kastory is a co-founder and General Partner at Expeditions, with the mission to rebuild European security. Stanislaw leads investor relations and operations, as well as building the firm’s network across European deep tech, defence and security. He is also still active in the private investment firm Firlej Kastory, which invests in other VC funds, and led to the establishment of Expeditions, along with Mikolaj Firlej.
Previously, he specialised in M&A and corporate law during his Masters’ degree and later joined DZP, Poland’s largest law firm. He went on to establish and lead DZP Future, advising early-stage startups on capital raising, international expansion, restructuring, and corporate disputes.
Ewa Milewska is an experienced finance executive and operator, with expertise in M&A, due diligence, and strategic growth. She is CFO and Partner at Expeditions, the leading early-stage investor in the future of European security, where she leads financial management, compliance and reporting, as well as supporting operations and deal execution alongside Stanislaw Kastory.
Prior to Expeditions, Ewa spent over a decade at PwC as Director in the Deals team, advising private equity and corporate clients across Europe on M&A transactions, financial due diligence, and SPA negotiations. As CEO and CFO of Akademeia Educational Group, she managed the establishment of the prestigious Akademeia High School alongside its founder, and led its sale to International Schools Partnership, with an average 7X return for investors. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst and holds a Masters degree from the Warsaw School of Economics.
Samuel Burrell is an investor, soldier and former operator, specialising in defence and security investments. He has first-hand experience as an end-user of defence tech, having served as Captain in the Royal Marines, a career which included operational deployments in Afghanistan and the Indian Ocean. He is still a serving reservist.
After leading operations for a Rocket Internet startup, including raising money from seed through to Series B, Samuel subsequently transitioned into venture investing, cutting his teeth at Octopus Ventures. He went on to specialise in deep tech and quantum at NSSIF, leading investments into Oxford Ionics, PsiQuantum, Riverlane, Infleqtion and NuQuantum. With his deep expertise in defence applications and his extensive military and security networks, Samuel is now Partner and Investment Lead for AUKUS at Expeditions. He holds an MBA from INSEAD and writes a weekly newsletter This Week in Dual-Use.